A KC-10 tanker escorted and refueled a flight of five Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft en route to exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand, earlier this month. “Not only did we conduct two aerial refuels, but we effectively showcased the expanding envelope of the MV-22 and its ability to range the entirety of the Pacific Command” area of operations, Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron 265 Commander Marine Capt. Victor Bockman said in a release. “It is a very capable platform that can hold more fuel than the C-130s we are used to working with. The KC-10 transferred 40,000 pounds of fuel on a 2,000-mile trip from Clark AB, Philippines, to U-Tapao AB, Thailand, additionally acting as a communications relay for the Ospreys. A KC-10 from Travis AFB, Calif., previously tested aerial refueling operations with an Osprey off the coast of California last October, according to a release. Cobra Gold ran Feb. 7 to 21.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.