The Northrop Grumman-EADS North America team confirmed that its KC-X entrant, the KC-30, had taken its first flight Sept. 25. Company officials at AFA’s Air & Space Conference said aircraft D-1 flew for nearly four hours. The KC-30 is in hot competition with Boeing’s 767 for the Air Force’s KC-X tanker replacement program.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.

