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Department of the Air Force Focused on Mission Systems for Future Tanker to Succeed KC-46 and KC-135
The Department of the Air Force is focusing on the mission systems needed to keep current and future tankers effective in contested environments. Priorities include self-protection, resilient communications, connectivity and battlespace awareness across the tanker and transport fleets. The Air Force has ended the NGAS effort for a new stealthy tanker airframe and is instead examining systems that can preserve tanker access. Requirements for the eventual replacement of KC-46 and KC-135 aircraft remain under development.