Open Skies RFP. The Air Force expects to release a final RFP for the OC-135 Open Skies recap program in late June, according to an April 18 notice on FedBizOpps. The program includes two new commercially derived aircraft to replace the service’s current OC-135B planes, with a contract award ...

Future WGS Satellites?  The Air Force continues to evaluate Boeing’s proposal to build two additional Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellites after launching what was previously expected to be the final system in the constellation last month, AF SMC Commander Lt. Gen. John Thompson said Thursday ...

RC-135. The Air Force’s fleet of RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft will be playing a role in the future Advanced Battle Management System, Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) during a Thursday SASC hearing as he described what that architecture could look like. “The ...

Japan Stands Up First F-35 Operational Unit. The Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) has officially stood up its first operational F-35A fighter squadron, dubbed the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, the F-35 Joint Program Office said Friday. The F-35 replaces Japan’s F-4EJ Kai fighter aircraft.  ...

Mattis Back to Academia. Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will return to Stanford University’s Hoover Institute as the Davies Family Distinguished Fellow effective May 1, the institute said Tuesday. Mattis was previously the Davies Fellow before accepting the position of Secretary of Defense ...

KC-46. Boeing delivered the seventh KC-46A tanker to Altus AFB, Oklahoma on Monday, the company and the Air Force confirmed Thursday. The service and Boeing continue to work through a series of foreign object debris issues that halted deliveries of the new aerial refueler in late February, and are ...