The Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, 24 NATO countries, three non-NATO countries, and a commercial aerial tanking vendor have all adopted a common set of procedures for aerial refueling. An Air Mobility Command release calls the development of the NATO Allied Tactical Publication-56(B) a “significant milestone” in military interoperability. ATP-56(B) replaces 17 separate weapon system-specific manuals. According to AMC, the new document came just in time to speed coordination for Operation Achilles in Afghanistan, enabling participation by French Air Force and Navy Rafael strike fighters.
PHOTOS: Air Force Shows Off Second B-21 in New Images
Sept. 12, 2025
On Sept. 12, the Air Force released half a dozen new photos of the second B-21 bomber to fly, giving observers and aviation enthusiasts another glimpse of the secretive Raider.