USAF announces Boeing has won the KC-X tanker replacement program with the company’s 767-based NewGen Tanker beating the A330-based aircraft offered by EADS North America. USAF expects Boeing to deliver 18 new tankers by 2017 as part of the 179-aircraft buy in the KC-X contract. USAF plans to follow with KC-Y and KC-Z programs to replace its entire KC-135 fleet and KC- 10 tankers. USAF designates the KC-X tanker, KC-46A.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.