The Washington Air National Guard’s 141st Air Refueling Wing formally has entered classic associate status with the active duty 92nd ARW at Fairchild AFB, Wash. SSgt. Connie Bias reports that it is the first such association for ANG and Air Mobility Command wings. The aircraft owned by the 92nd ARW will carry patches for both the 92nd and 141st, which gave up its own KC-135 tankers to BRAC 2005. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire also has just reached an agreement with USAF that will ensure her state has access to tanker aircraft.
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.
