A USAF KC-135 refueled a Romanian F-16 for the first time last month, marking the first time the aircraft from each nation have worked together. A KC-135 and airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England, deployed to Romania earlier this year to set up joint operations for the first time with Romania’s young F-16 program. In 2014, Romania began its shift from MiG-21s to F-16s and until February solely relied on Italian refueling aircraft. With the Feb. 28 refueling, the Romanian Air Force officially became certified to refuel from USAF KC-135s, according to an Air Force release.
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.
