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 ...

Airbus confirmed it has responded to Australia’s search for a rapidly-deployable, multi-role light helicopter with its H145M — the military version of the Airbus H145. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is seeking at least 16 new rotorcraft for its special forces to carry out a wide variety of ...

During a French army counter-terror operation in Mali on April 2, an improvised explosive device destroyed an armored vehicle in the group. The French Army employed an Airbus Tiger attack helicopter and an Airbus NH90 Caimane transport helicopter in the immediate aftermath of the attack, which ...

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.  ...