The Air Force’s three top acquisition priorities—fielding the F-35 strike fighter, KC-46A tanker, and Long Range Strike Bomber—”seem like the correct programs to me at this point,” Air Force Secretary nominee Deborah James told lawmakers last week. “Based on what I know about those three top priorities, it seems right to me, based on the strategy that we are pursuing, based on the thrust of the rebalance to the Pacific,” James told the Senate Armed Services Committee during her Sept. 19 confirmation hearing. “You need longer range, we need more bomber forces. It’s important for the [nuclear] triad and so forth,” she said. (James written responses to advance questions) (For more coverage of James’ confirmation hearing, see An Advocate for the F-35.)
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”