Boeing KC-135

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force has inspected and cleared its KC-135 fleet after the service discovered falsified certifications at a main technical repair shop.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
Coming out of the service’s biggest exercise in recent history, the Air Force looks to make changes, but uncertainty is bubbling up.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Ben Goldstein
Reliable Robotics has agreed to sell its Reliable Autonomy System (RAS) to the U.S. Air Force to be integrated and tested beginning mid-2026.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Steve Trimble
The U.S. Air Force is seeking industry input on the airframe for the Next Generation Air Refueling System (NGAS) after reimagining the original concept.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Aviation Week rode along on the KC-135 as it participated in the last scheduled day of flying as part of AMC’s massive Mobility Guardian 2025 exercise.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
HASC passed its fiscal 2026 defense policy bill, looking to block some key moves in the DOD proposal and raising the fleet size of USAF mobility aircraft.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force’s plan to buy more refuelers after completion of the KC-46 program of record has evolved again.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Garrett Reim
The U.S. Air Force has issued a “Notice of Intent to Award” a contract to fission power startup Oklo.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
The Australian, UK and U.S. air forces have been collaborating to help streamline the entry into service of the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force will base 21 Boeing F-15EXs at an Air National Guard base in Michigan.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will provide the Indian Air Force and Indian Army with indigenous Prachand light combat helicopters.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Industry is being asked by the U.S. Air Force to submit ideas for a new countermeasure system that can defeat infrared-guided missiles and air vehicles.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Steve Trimble
The disclosure offers a rare glimpse into the secretive operational plans for the Air Force’s next-generation bomber.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
When Boeing delivers the last KC-46 ordered under the KC-X program in 2029, the average age of the remaining KC-135s will be 67 years old.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The Air Force no longer deems a stealthy successor to the Boeing KC-46 and KC-135 necessary for its modernization strategy.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
The Senate passed the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 85-14.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The U.S. Air Force approved Merlin’s airworthiness plan to demonstrate parts of the Merlin Pilot autonomy suite in KC-135s.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The service’s Operational Energy office has outlined several programs aimed at increasing the efficiency of military aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Air Force leaders say the service’s mobility fleet of tankers and airlifters need to become more connected to each other.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
This year, that operational requirement comes as the U.S. Air Force also undergoes a large-scale overhaul of its force structure.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The Air Force’s Air Mobility Command outlined its new expectation Nov. 1 during a presentation at the Airlift/Tanker Association conference.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Drag-reducing wake thruster; superconducting motor for Airbus; autonomy for Anthem flight deck; China’s large tiltrotor.
Emerging Technologies

By Graham Warwick
The partnership will initially target the retrofit of military fixed-wing aircraft for special missions.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
AFRL’s Global Lightning prototyping effort began in 2018.
Satellites

By Steve Trimble
The $3.6 million award from the Afwerx organization, which includes a matching contribution by Eclipse Ventures, will fund additional test flights.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare