We have the memo (mentioned in our Friday column) that South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune wrote to the BRAC commission. In it, he says the Air Force misinformed the commission about the potential impact of litigation over the bomber training range used by the B-1Bs at Dyess AFB, Tex. The Pentagon wants to close Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and move its B-1Bs to Dyess. As an aside,Thune says he does not advocate shifting the Dyess bombers to Ellsworth.
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”