The plan to “concurrently test and produce” the Joint Strike Fighter does not sit well with the Government Accountability Office. In recent testimony before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, Michael Sullivan, GAO’s director of acquisition and sourcing management, claims that similar development strategies on other programs have led to cost overruns and delays. He says it’s a case of lack of maturity in program designs, something that only comes through extensive testing. In response to questions, Sullivan asserted simply, “We think that they should fly before they buy.”
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.”