Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne says that the lawmakers who received briefings on the tanker analysis of alternatives last week are pleased that the program is shaping up and “coming to a conclusion.” He predicts the long-awaited document will be released publicly in mid-March. He also thinks the Air Force finally will be able to release a request for information to industry shortly thereafter. If all goes as planned, a request for formal proposals would go out this fall. The competition will be “open to domestic and international” suppliers—read Boeing and Airbus—and he thinks there is “adequate” money in the future years defense program to get the program up to steam.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.