The USAF recently inked a contract with Boeing for 15 additional KC-46A aircraft at $2.4 billion. (Photo: USAF)
The US Air Force’s (USAF) future priorities to shore up and modernise its aerial tanker fleet could see a shift in focus in light of recent defence budget requests for FY2027 published this month.
The USAF’s work to develop a sixth-generation tanker platform, named Next-Generation Aerial Refuelling System (NGAS), is currently already underway via a study to assess its feasibility. In the wake of FY2027 budget requests, however, the force has said it wants to move funds from the NGAS programme to a new effort named the Advanced Tanker Systems (ATS) programme – with no 2027 funding requested for NGAS but US$13 million
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The latest purchase of F-16V combat aircraft comes as the country presses ahead with its long-held plans to modernise its air combat capabilities and invest in the replacement of ageing Russian aircraft.
Both sixth-generation combat aircraft programmes are still awaiting major key decisions from respective governments with regards to funding or future direction, but industry and governmental officials remain optimistic of progress going forward.
The Mountain Horse Containerised Autonomous Drone Delivery System has been engineered for dispersed, forward UAV operations. It can store, protect, charge, launch and recover drones.
AFSOC has revealed a new Block II variant of the OA-1K Skyraider II featuring rapid deployment and reassembly capabilities designed to support expeditionary special operations missions.
The UK MoD said it would narrow down the competitors from four to two later in the year, with those selected going on to develop the prototype drone that will operate as loyal wingman to the British Army’s Apache AH-64E helicopters.
The UH-60M is the latest variant of the UH-60, a workhorse multirole helicopter that continues to attract further orders from across the globe. With further modernisation upgrades underway, the platform is expected to remain in operation until 2050.
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