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.
Army Building Up New Space Operations Branch
Oct. 15, 2026
The Army has long been dependent on space capabilities to navigate terrain, communicate in hard-to-reach areas, and identify and strike targets. Now, the service wants to deepen its space operations expertise and is making plans to expand its own cadre of operators in the coming years.