Three retired Air Force generals who served as air component commanders during U.S. combat operations in Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo are throwing their support behind the Northrop Grumman-EADS-built KC-30 aircraft claiming the larger airframe would better serve top brass in future wars if chosen as the service’s next-generation tanker.

While the three generals -- Gen. Charles Horner, Gen. Michael Ryan and Lt. Gen. Michael Short -- did not mention the KC-30 tanker by name in a 552-word essay obtained by Inside the Air Force, they are clearly advocating for the larger aircraft.

“We wanted the most capable aerial refueling aircraft for our theater operations,” the generals wrote. “We wanted the KC-10 -- our largest tanker. KC-10s provided the most flexibility and the most versatility for all of our operations.”

Horner served as commander of 9th Air Force Central Air Forces during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the 1990s. Ryan served as commander of Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and commander of 16th Air Force during Bosnia operations in 1995. He later served as the Air Force chief of staff. Short served as commander of Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and 16th Air Force during the Kosovo operation in 1999.