US Northern Command officials decided last week to preposition four Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped aircraft in California in anticipation of possible new wildfire outbreaks as Santa Ana winds grew in force. NORTHCOM deployed two MAFFS aircraft from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing and two from Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing in Colorado.
The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.