Lockheed Picks GE To Power LMXT As It Presses For Tanker Competition
Lockheed Martins announces it will use the GE Aerospace CF6 to power its LMXT should the Airbus A330-based aircraft be built for tanker-transport service.
michael.stearn… Tue, 06/06/2023 - 19:51
Primary Category

Boeing’s Colbert Gears Up For Next-Generation Competitions

By Jen DiMascio Jun 02, 2023
Aviation Week editors talk with the Boeing Defense, Space and Security president about his focus on regaining stability for major development programs.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

First Aircraft Arrive In Germany For Deployment Exercise

By Tony Osborne May 31, 2023
The first aircraft participating in the Air Defender 2023 deployment exercise have touched down at German air bases.
Budget, Policy & Operations

KC-46 Deliveries Still Paused; Boeing Hoping To Meet Overall 2023 Goal

By Brian Everstine May 17, 2023
Deliveries of the Boeing KC-46 tanker to the U.S. Air Force are still paused amid an ongoing problem with the aircraft’s fuel tanks.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Northrop Joins JetZero In U.S. Air Force Tanker Bid

By Guy Norris Apr 21, 2023
Northrop Grumman has partnered with JetZero in its bid to develop a full-scale blended-wing-body demonstrator as a tanker-transport for the U.S. Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Huge German-U.S. Exercise To Give Luftwaffe Up-Close View Of F-35

By Brian Everstine Apr 06, 2023
The U.S. Air Force is planning the largest transatlantic crossing of combat aircraft since the lead-up to the 1990-1991 Gulf War this summer.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Japan Plans P-1, SH-60K Program Cuts

Asia-Pacific Staff Apr 03, 2023
The latest weapon system lifecycle cost estimates from Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) shows changes to Tokyo's procurement plans.
Budget, Policy & Operations

First Take, March 27, 2023

By Graham Warwick Mar 24, 2023
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Boeing To Take Hit From KC-46 Tanker Charge This Quarter

By Michael Bruno Mar 22, 2023
Boeing will record another charge on its star-crossed KC-46A tanker program for the U.S. Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

U.S. Air Force Accelerates Future Tanker Program And Cancels KC-Y

By Brian Everstine Mar 10, 2023
Officials call for clean-sheet designs, saying commercial-derivative refuelers are not survivable.
Budget, Policy & Operations

First Take, March 13, 2023

By Graham Warwick Mar 10, 2023
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

USAF Ending KC-Y Competition, Likely To Buy 75 More KC-46s

By Brian Everstine Mar 07, 2023
The U.S. Air Force wants to formally kill its KC-Y “Bridge Tanker” program as it accelerates its future Next Generation Air Refueling System.
Budget, Policy & Operations

USAF Mobility Aircraft Operating Without Most Markings, Tail Numbers

By Brian Everstine Feb 28, 2023
AMC recently directed a change to its fleet, removing the large “U.S. AIR FORCE,” unit markings, tail numbers and other identifying markings.
Budget, Policy & Operations

USAF Re-evaluating Force Structure, Squadron Size As CCAs Develop

By Brian Everstine Feb 21, 2023
As the USAF looks to develop uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft to fly with future fighters, the service is also rethinking how it organizes these fleets.
Aircraft & Propulsion

USAF Data Shows Readiness Worsening For Key, Aging Fleets

By Brian Everstine Feb 10, 2023
Several key U.S. Air Force aircraft saw their mission-capable rates drop in fiscal 2022 compared to the prior year.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Letters From Our Readers, Feb. 13, 2023

Feb 10, 2023
Readers write about the Boeing 747's legacy, pilot mental health, 100-year-old American companies and Boeing KC-46 refueling issues.
Aviation Week & Space Technology

U.S. Air Force Targeting Next-Generation Refueler By 2040

By Brian Everstine Jan 31, 2023
The U.S. Air Force wants an innovative refueling system to better operate in contested environments with a goal of operations beginning in 2040.
Aircraft & Propulsion

USAF Orders More KC-46s As Program Works Cargo, Fuel Issues

By Brian Everstine Jan 30, 2023
The KC-46’s developmental history is a story of U.S. Air Force work-arounds.
Aircraft & Propulsion

AMC Wants To Launch 100 UAVs From Single KC-135 Stratotanker

Jan 27, 2023
The U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command wants a plan within two months to launch 100 UAVs from a single aging KC-135 Stratotanker.
Aircraft & Propulsion

How U.S. Air Force Is Evolving Its Tanker Plans

By Brian Everstine Apr 14, 2022
As the service looks to cut KC-10s and KC-135s, it is expressing more confidence in the KC-46 despite continued deficiencies in its development.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Israel Firms KC-46 Buy, Confirms Third F-35 Squadron Purchase Plan

By Tony Osborne Feb 22, 2021
The Israeli government has confirmed it will acquire a third squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35s as well as heavy-lift helicopters and advanced munitions as part of its new arms procurement program to update the Israeli Defense Forces. 
Aircraft & Propulsion

USAF Extends KC-46A Testing For Three Years

By Steve Trimble Jun 08, 2020
The U.S. Air Force has extended initial operational testing on the Boeing KC-46A for at least three years.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Boeing Cuts Widebody Rates; Pushes Out Next New Program

By Guy Norris Apr 29, 2020
Boeing will slow production of 777 and 787 widebody twinjets as well as development of the next new aircraft program as it continues restructuring to…
Aircraft & Propulsion

Boeing Begins Fixing KC-46 Fuel System

By Lee Hudson Apr 03, 2020
Boeing has installed valves on seven KC-46A Pegasus aircraft plugging the leaky fuel system the U.S. Air Force has deemed a major deficiency.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Boeing, USAF Agree On Dramatic KC-46 Remote Vision System Redesign

By Lee Hudson Apr 03, 2020
Every facet of the problem-plagued Remote Vision System will be altered by Boeing for what the U.S. Air Force is calling "RVS 2.0."
Aircraft & Propulsion