At long last, the Air Force has taken the formal first step toward replacing its elderly KC-135 aerial refueling fleet. Aeronautical Systems Center has issued a request for information, seeking to learn what contractors want to vie for the effort and what they can offer. The RFI has two parts: Part A outlines the capabilities required, such as being able to refuel multiple aircraft simultaneously whether they require probe/drogue or boom/receptacle provisions; Part B asks whether the contractor could also undertake upgrade of the current KC-135 aircraft to keep them operable during the transition to the new KC-X. The Air Force expects to have initial interest responses by June 9.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
