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 rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.