Boeing KC-46A

The U.S. Air Force on Nov. 25 awarded Boeing a $2.47 billion contract for 15 KC-46A tankers, extending production into the later years of the program.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Boeing Defense and Space CEO Steve Parker says a long-awaited upgrade for the system that operates the Boeing KC-46 refueling boom has completed its first flight.

The U.S. Air Force is pressing to field a next-generation aerial refueling system by as soon as 2036, to justify production extension of the Boeing KC-46.

Japan has deployed fighter aircraft to Europe for the first time, reciprocating visits made by the UK Royal Air Force and the German Air Force.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The U.S. Air Force on Aug. 25 released three investigations into incidents involving the Boeing KC-46A all linked to a similar issue—the tanker’s stiff boom getting stuck in receiving aircraft.

The acquisition, which still requires formal Israeli government approval, would bring the Israeli Air Force's KC-46 fleet to six aircraft.

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.

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.

Boeing on July 1 announced it is making Stephen Parker its permanent head of Defense Space & Security.

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

The USAF's Air Mobility Command is calling on industry to take some initial steps to fill newly defined gaps in its aeromedical evacuation.

A proactive step that halted deliveries of the KC-46 and repair work on the tanker’s remote vision system show Boeing Defense’s new approach.

Boeing has resumed deliveries of the KC-46 tanker to the U.S. Air Force following an extended delay.

The U.S. Air Force expects its extended KC-46 delivery drought to end soon, with the delivery process to begin next week.

The top U.S. Air Force officer says delivery is now expected in late 2026 of an overhauled remote vision system for the KC-46.

Boeing’s beleaguered Defense and Space business made progress on several fronts in the first quarter as part of a broader turnaround plan.

Boeing has been awarded an $18.2 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to mature autonomous refueling.

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.

The discovery prompted the U.S. Air Force to pause Boeing KC-46 deliveries until the fleet could be inspected and the root cause identified.

The USAF wants to evaluate how the ALQ-167 Angry Kitten pod can support larger Fairchild Republic A-10s and mobility aircraft, including the Lockheed C-130.

The disclosure offers a rare glimpse into the secretive operational plans for the Air Force’s next-generation bomber.

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.

The Air Force no longer deems a stealthy successor to the Boeing KC-46 and KC-135 necessary for its modernization strategy.