The Air Force is working hard to ensure interoperability of the KC-46 tanker, as well as other fleets of aircraft, with allies around the world, Maj. Gen. John Thompson, USAF’s program executive officer for tankers, told House legislators last week. Speaking before the House Armed Services Committee’s seapower and projection forces panel on April 2, Thompson said USAF is assisting Boeing in its KC-46 marketing efforts by ensuring Air Force senior leadership is as knowledgeable as possible about the tanker and its capabilities so they can answer questions allies may have about the program. They also are coordinating with Boeing to bring the KC-46 simulator and air refueling operator station simulator before “a significant number of the air attaches from here in Washington, D.C., at the foreign embassies” and at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to demonstrate the aircraft’s capabilities and hear the status of the program, Thompson said.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
