America's next refuelling aircraft could become unmanned as the Air Force examines autonomy for future tanker designs ...

Military aviation relies on tankers, but most of the fleet is over 60 years old, and the replacement is riddled with development issues.

Military aircraft don't have time to land and refuel on sensitive missions. That's where aerial refueling tankers come in.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, March 31, 2026.

"The last KC-135 pilot has not been born," Air Mobility Command Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. Gerald Donohue said Tuesday.

Aerial tankers might not have the same heroic image as jet fighters or the same firepower heavy bombers do, but their strategic importance is unrivaled in the day-to-day operations and movement of the ...

With an eye on the Navy’s progress toward an unmanned aerial tanker, Air Force planners are asking questions about their own future tanker fleet. “Thinking beyond the current KC-46 buy and the program ...

Even as the face of modern air power has evolved, the aerial tanker, in many ways, remains the backbone of the United States Air Force. Tankers can refuel planes in flight, expanding other planes' ...

The head of Air Mobility Command says the US Air Force is open to all potential solutions for a next-generation survivable tanker, including a stealthy blended-wing body, a converted business jet and ...

Although the key fixes for the KC-46 will still take years to fully reach the fleet, a new plan promises a 20% availability increase by 2030, faster RVS 2.0 retrofits and a limited Boeing-led ...

Military aviation relies on tankers, but most of the fleet is over 60 years old, and the replacement is riddled with development issues. By David Roza Published Sep ...

A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, March 31, 2026. (U.S. Air Force) Fewer U.S. Air Force tankers are available for ...