Which of the following is NOT a primary intratheater AE aircraft?

• A. C-130 Hercules
• B. C-17 Globemaster
• C. KC-135 Stratotanker
• D. UH-60Q Medevac Black Hawk Helicopter

Answer: (D)

Within theater aeromedical evacuation, the main assets are aircraft that can carry multiple patients over meaningful distances to higher levels of care. Fixed-wing transports like the C-130 Hercules and the C-17 Globemaster III are designed to move large numbers of litters and ambulatory patients, operate from less-than-ideal airstrips, and cover the distances typical of intratheater evacuation. The KC-135 Stratotanker, while primarily a refueling aircraft, can be configured for aeromedical evacuation in some circumstances, but it isn’t considered a primary intratheater AE platform. The UH-60Q Medevac Black Hawk Helicopter, though invaluable for rapid on-scene evacuation and short-range transfers, is a rotor-wing asset with limited range and payload compared with fixed-wing platforms, so it’s not categorized as a primary intratheater AE aircraft.