The 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB, Okla., inactivated its 55th Air Refueling Squadron after 14 years of service on April 1 and merged it with its 54th ARS. The 55th ARS, like the 54th ARS, was an Air Education and Training Command KC-135R flying training squadron. Now the 54th ARS will carry that load. But some help will come from the newly announced classic associate Reserve squadron that the Air Force intends to stand up at Altus to work with the 97th AMW in its KC-135 and C-17 training mission. (Includes Altus photo caption by A1C Tiffany M. Deuel)
Air Force Asking for $1.5B to Fund E-7 in 2027
May 20, 2026
The Air Force’s planned budget amendment to restore funding for the E-7A Wedgetail in fiscal 2027 will be about $1.5 billion, Air Force Sec. Troy Meink told lawmakers May 20. The Air Force also plans to keep funding the E-7 in 2028 and beyond, Meink told the House Armed Services…