Air Force Materiel Command officially stood up the 418th Flight Test Squadron, Det. 1 in Seattle to support developmental testing of the Boeing-built KC-46A tanker, announced command officials. The detachment’s first three members were on hand for the unit’s activation ceremony on July 11, according to a July 17 release. By next summer, the detachment, which is based out of King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field, will have approximately 40 personnel in place in preparation for the tanker’s first flight, states the release. “We will have pilots, boom operators, flight test engineers, logisticians, and disciplined engineers—all working together with their Boeing counterparts,” said Lt. Col. James Quashnock, 418th FLTS, Det. 1 commander. KC-46 developmental testing is slated to conclude in 2016, states the release. The detachment’s parent unit, the 418th FTS, is based at Edwards AFB, Calif. The Air Force plans to acquire 179 KC-46s to replace its oldest KC-135 tankers. (Seattle report by Jet Fabara) (See also KC-46A Critical Design Review Nears Completion.)
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
