Darkest before dawn?(click to view full) The USA's aerial tanker fleet is the backbone of American global air power, but its youngest KC-135 planes were built over 40 years ago. Replacing them is the USAF's #1 priority, and the initial KC-X phase of 175 operational...
KC-767: In the dark?(click to view full) Our FOCUS Article "The USAF's KC-X Aerial Tanker RFP" has covered the lead-up to Boeing's protest, in the wake of the Airbus/NGC win. Today, Boeing issued a release that discussed its claims in the coming GAO protest. Boeing...
KC-X contenders(click to view full) As the $35 billion KC-45 tanker purchase flies into the teeth of Washington's political battles, the Lexington Institute think-tank discusses the relative ratings of each contestant in the USAF's aerial tanker competition. This is a...
KC-30 Concept(click to view full) The $35 billion KC-45 aerial tanker deal has attracted a lot of attention and commentary lately, as one might expect. It has also attracted a lot of lobbying dollars - again, as one might expect. While the Pentagon hopes it can keep a...
KC-X options(click to view full) In January 2007, the big question was whether there would be a competition for the USA's KC-X aerial tanker RFP, which will cover 175 production aircraft and 4 test platforms. The cost for this first phase alone is likely to reach $35+...
KC-135 refuels F-22A(click to view full) Gen. Arthur Lichte, the commander of USAF Air Mobility Command, recently placed the stakes behind the $30+ billion, 175 aircraft KC-X aerial refueling tanker contract in perspective, and discussed past aerial tanker program...
KC-767 refuels KC-777(click to view full) DID has covered developments in the USA's coming aerial tanker program, which could reach 500 planes and/or $100+ billion before all is said and done, and is now listed as the USAF's #1 procurement priority. The 707-based...
F-15C over DC (click to view full) "Array of Aging American Aircraft Attracting Attention" discusses the issues that accompany an air force whose fighters have an average age of over 23.5 years - vs. an average of 8.5 years in 1967. One of the most obvious...
Italian Eurofighters (click to view full) The multi-national Eurofighter Typhoon has been described as the aerodynamic apotheosis of lessons learned from the twin engine "teen series" fighters that began with the F-14 and F-15, continued with the emergence of the...
KC-135: Old as the hills... (click to view full) DID's FOCUS articles cover major weapons acquisition programs - and no program is more important to the USAF than its aerial tanker fleet renewal. In January 2007, the big question was whether there would be a...