KC-135 tankers from RAF Mildenhall, England, have been providing the aerial refueling needed to keep the airlift of people and supplies moving to and from the Middle East. Last week airmen of the 100th Air Refueling Wing helped the transit of USAF MH-53 Pave Low helicopters from Mildenhall’s 352nd Special Operations Group to Cyprus. Since then, the 100th ARW, which has the only USAF tankers permanently stationed in Europe, have been refueling various military aircraft aiding the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.