Continuing
the effort to prove whether it’s feasible for unmanned aerial vehicles to refuel in midair, the Air Force Research Lab and Boeing’s Phantom Works recently tests of the automated aerial refueling program. According to a Boeing release, the AAR system “autonomously guided” a Learjet serving as a UAV up to a KC-135R tanker and “successfully maneuvered it among seven air refueling positions behind the tanker.” There was a pilot on board to fly the Learjet to the rendezvous point, but after that it was all the AAR.
B-1 Bomber Task Force Deploys to Japan
Oct. 18, 2025
A quartet of B-1Bs from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas have landed at Misawa AB, Japan, likely for a series of exercises with Japanese, U.S. and Australian forces.
