Boeing officials let it drop that the company has already invested about $1 billion of its own money in the KC-767 tanker program. They pointed out to reporters last week that the first KC-767 tanker—bound for the Italian Air Force—made its first flight last May 21 and has been in flight test ever since. Boeing is bearing most of the cost of the flight tests, which are due to wrap up late next year. Italy has ordered four KC-767s so far. So has Japan. Thus far, the Air Force has not contributed any money to the test program, but, at the request of Italy, USAF personnel have been placed on the KC-767 test team.
A Golden Dome task force established under U.S. Northern Command earlier this year has a broad remit, which includes fielding the capability to defend the U.S. against missile and drone attacks, its leaders said this week. Some of the primary focuses right now are ensuring Golden Dome can defend itself…