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NATO Air Policing operations — U.S. Air Force News

April 9, 2024
Cope Tiger concludes in Thailand

This year marked the first time 5th generation aircraft participated in the exercise—F-35A Lightning IIs from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, joined F-16C Fighting Falcons from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.
April 5, 2024
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Jan. 26, 2024
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Jan. 19, 2024
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Jan. 12, 2024
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Jan. 5, 2024
AF Year in Photos

This year's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This annual feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Dec. 15, 2023
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Aug. 29, 2023
AFCENT, coalition partners integrate during Agile Spartan

U.S. Air Forces Central successfully concluded Operation Agile Spartan 23.2 Aug. 26, showcasing the power of collective military efforts and a proactive approach to combat readiness.
July 28, 2023
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
June 30, 2023
Readout of US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s counterpart visit with Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff Lt. Gen. Viorel Pană

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. hosted the Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff Lt. Gen. Viorel Pană for an official counterpart visit recognizing Romania as a valued NATO ally.
June 25, 2023
AMC celebrates 100th year of air refueling with community flyovers across the US

More than 150 tankers from 26 Total Force installations are scheduled to participate in the flyovers including KC-135 Stratotankers, KC-10 Extenders and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft to honor 100 years of aerial refueling excellence.
June 16, 2023
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
June 9, 2023
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
April 21, 2023
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Feb. 17, 2023
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Jan. 26, 2023
US, Japanese forces team up for exercise Southern Beach

Southern Beach provides U.S. and Japanese personnel the opportunity to integrate as an allied force to better understand each other’s strengths, practice fluidity and execute the mission of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Jan. 10, 2023
JB Charleston launches 24 C-17s during mission generation exercise

The exercise marked the largest C-17 launch ever from a single base and demonstrated the wing’s ability to rapidly generate and project overwhelming airpower alongside joint partners.
Jan. 6, 2023
AF Year in Photos

This year's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This annual feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Dec. 6, 2022
Aerodynamic technologies for mobility aircraft promise high return on investment

As part of its effort to increase readiness and capability, the Air Force is working to introduce aerodynamic technologies on mobility aircraft to improve airflow, reduce maintenance issues, increase payload capability, and decrease fuel demand.
Dec. 2, 2022
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Oct. 11, 2022
Fairchild completes historic 72-hour KC-135 endurance mission

Two KC-135 Stratotankers simultaneously conducted 72-hour single-aircraft endurance missions, demonstrating multi-day tanker mission generation capabilities, Oct. 4-7.
Sept. 2, 2022
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Aug. 24, 2022
Airman’s innovation saves time, money

One 100th Maintenance Squadron Airman has invented a new boom cover tool that has the potential to save the U.S. Air Force 40,000 man-hours and approximately $1 million per year.
July 15, 2022
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
June 24, 2022
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
June 18, 2022
USAFE integrates with Arctic fighters during exercise Baltic Operations

U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft integrated with Swedish, Finnish, German, and U.S. Navy fighters, during U.S. Naval Forces Europe’s exercise Baltic Operations 2022 over the Baltic Sea region.
May 20, 2022
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
April 27, 2022
KC-46A refuels first international aircraft during Employment Capability Exercise

The mission marked the first international receiver for the KC-46A Pegasus, paving the way for stronger interoperability with allies and partners.
April 13, 2022
Exercise Agile Tiger: Integrated deterrence in the heartland of America

The exercise enhanced participants’ ability to communicate, collaborate and operate together, ensuring unity of effort across the joint force.
April 7, 2022
SecAF visits McConnell AFB

While touring various organizations, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall experienced McConnell AFB’s direct impact on Air Mobility Command and the advancements in aerial refueling.
Feb. 25, 2022
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Jan. 7, 2022
AF Year in Photos

This year's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This annual feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Oct. 8, 2021
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
July 23, 2021
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
June 2, 2021
Arctic Challenge Exercise 21: Strengthening Nordic Relationships

During the exercise, U.S., allied and partner nations will exercise the ability to plan, execute and evaluate large force employments in a multinational air operation.
May 24, 2021
AMC tankers test communications systems, strategic deterrence capabilities during Mobility Guardian 21

Aircrew and mission planners operating KC-135 Stratotankers, KC-10 Extenders and the KC-46 Pegasus came together for AMC’s premier readiness exercise to test specialized computers and communication systems that enable rapid data sharing as a means of ensuring strategic deterrence.
May 13, 2021
Newest KC-46A Pegasus candidate bases announced

A total of 12 KC-46As will replace Air Force Reserve Command KC-135 Stratotankers at one of the six candidate locations and 24 KC-46As will replace active-duty KC-135s at one of the two candidate locations.
April 16, 2021
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
March 27, 2021
437th AW conducts all-female flights for Women’s History Month

The 437th Airlift Wing conducted two all-female flights to commemorate Women’s History Month at Joint Base Charleston March 15 and 17.
March 16, 2021
‘Accelerated Path to Wings’ pilot training makes history

Seven Airmen made history as the first “Accelerated Path to Wings” program graduated and they transitioned from students to Air Force pilots during a ceremony March 12.
Nov. 19, 2020
Fairchild AFB, Wyoming ANG support aeromedical evacuation across Pacific

Fairchild AFB Airmen worked alongside Wyoming Air National Guardsmen from the 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 18th AES, traveling across the Pacific Ocean to Kadena Air Base, Japan.
Sept. 29, 2020
Valiant Shield 2020: Joint force training protects Indo-Pacific

The eighth iteration of exercise Valiant Shield concluded Sept. 25 following 12 days of joint operations at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace.
Sept. 18, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Sept. 4, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Aug. 26, 2020
Fourth Fighter Squadron wraps up training in Alaska

Red Flag is a large force combat exercise that takes place several times each year at both Eielson AFB and Nellis AFB, Nevada, where a friendly “Blue Force” takes on an enemy “Red Force” over several days in a variety of taxing, combat-realistic scenarios.
Aug. 14, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Aug. 4, 2020
Andersen AFB KC-135 crew locates missing mariners on lone Pacific island

Guardsmen from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard and the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania ANG deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, were the first to locate three missing mariners during a search and rescue mission in the Federated States of Micronesia southwest of
July 27, 2020
Prince Sultan AB boosts CENTCOM AOR refueling capabilities

Just 48 hours before the KC-135 from the 349th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron left Al Udeid Air Base to conduct refueling missions in the region, the 378th ELRS was given a task: To develop, build and sustain a rapid refueling capability at Prince Sultan Air Base. That’s exactly what they did.
July 24, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
June 5, 2020
AFCEC leads Little Rock AFB runway replacement

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is leading a $180 million project to replace the 64-year-old runway at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.
May 15, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
May 1, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
April 20, 2020
Vertical wiper blades reduce aircraft drag, tests show

Across the KC-135 fleet, blades are positioned horizontally on the windshield as part of the aircraft’s original 1950s design. However, as the understanding of aviation aerodynamics advanced, research indicated placing the wipers vertically when not in use could improve aerodynamic efficiency and
April 15, 2020
Aircraft airflow tested in Nebraska to reduce COVID-19 spread

Active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard components from AMC, in coordination with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, worked April 4-11 at the 155th Air Refueling Wing examining airflow and particles to assess ways to prevent the spread of the
March 6, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
March 4, 2020
Contingency response experts practice teamwork, training during Patriot Sands

Contingency-response personnel from around the globe teamed up on the east Florida coast to refine their emergency-response capabilities during the exercise training on a host of different aircraft platforms including the C-17 Globemaster III, C-5M Super Galaxy, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-130 Hercules,
March 3, 2020
Barrett, Goldfein outline Air Force priorities to Senate committee and the “tradeoffs” needed to achieve them

The hearing focused on the department’s recently released $169 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2021.
Feb. 21, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Feb. 20, 2020
100th MXS Airman innovates leak detection technology

Staff Sgt. Patrick Leach, 100th Maintenance Squadron Airman aircraft fuels systems craftsman, created the Pressurized Leak Detection Cup with the help of the aircraft structural maintenance flight.
Jan. 24, 2020
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Nov. 22, 2019
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Nov. 18, 2019
MacDill AFB fuels the fight

Through precise training, the Airmen of the 927th and 6th Air Refueling Wings stationed at MacDill Air Force Base remain ready to deter near-peer adversaries.
Nov. 8, 2019
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Oct. 23, 2019
Fairchild AFB reactivates 97th Air Refueling Squadron

The reactivation is due to an increase of KC-135 Stratotankers being transferred to Fairchild AFB along with more than 400 Airmen and their families.
Oct. 4, 2019
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Sept. 20, 2019
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Sept. 12, 2019
US, Australian airmen wrap up exercise Sentry Aloha 19-2

Members of 20 units from 15 states and one unit from Australia came to Oahu to participate in Sentry Aloha.
Sept. 9, 2019
AMC’s largest exercise, Mobility Guardian 2019 begins

Mobility Guardian 2019 is set to be AMC’s largest full-spectrum readiness exercise to date. Forty-six U.S. aircraft will join aircraft from 29 international partners, along with more than 4,000 U.S. and international Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps aviators.
Sept. 6, 2019
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
March 29, 2019
Aerial refueling probe light evaluations flown with KC-135: Effort to clear Navy, USMC F-35 night refueling envelope

The F-35 Lightning II program recently completed testing on an improved lighting assembly with the KC-135 Stratotanker that will enable the Navy and Marine Corps F-35 variants to refuel behind the tanker at night. Flight testing of the redesigned light, which attaches to a refueling probe, was led
Feb. 7, 2019
Kansas Guard Airman innovates superior training method

With a high deployment tempo and limited aircraft, finding the aircraft available for boom operators to practice tying down cargo to the floor of the jet was almost always a problem. Master Sgt. Nathan Neidhardt, 190th Operations Group aircrew training noncommissioned officer in charge, solved this
Nov. 26, 2018
MacDill fab flight: “You break it, we fix it”

The KC-135 Stratotanker has fueled missions around the globe for more than 60 years. Its long track record is a direct reflection of the tremendous work aircraft maintainers put into the jets, especially the 6th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., who push their
Sept. 17, 2018
National Guard answers call for Hurricane Florence

National Guard members have flowed in from at least 28 states to help North and South Carolina units support civil authorities following Hurricane Florence.
Aug. 14, 2018
Total force integration: 9th LRS, Reservists fuel Beale AFB aircraft

The 9th Logistics Readiness Squadron petroleum, oil and lubricants flight works to ensure the mission at Beale Air Force Base maintains a steady rate.
Aug. 14, 2018
Exchange program instructor fuels interoperability at Pitch Black 2018

The Military Personnel Exchange Program offers active-duty Airmen the chance to integrate into ally and partner nation air forces abroad.
Aug. 10, 2018
Air Force promotes pilot diversity with ACE Flight Program

The inaugural class of the U.S. Air Force’s Aviation, Character and Education Flight Program recently graduated the three-week pilot training camp August 4.
July 26, 2018
Air Mobility Command announces next two KC-135 simulator relocations

The commander of Air Mobility Command selected Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, and MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as the relocation sites for the next two KC-135 Stratotanker pilot flight simulators.
July 13, 2018
KC-46 completes flight testing required for October first aircraft delivery

The KC-46 Pegasus program achieved an important milestone July 6, 2018, at Boeing Field, Seattle, with completion of the final flight tests required for first aircraft delivery planned in late October.
March 29, 2018
Ops support assists with KC-135 mission during Red Flag 18-2

Airmen from the 92nd Operations Group from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 6th OG from MacDill AFB, Florida and 931st Operations Support Squadron from McConnell AFB, Kansas, flew to Nellis AFB in support of the KC-135 Stratotankers’ role in exercise Red Flag 18-2.
Jan. 10, 2018
Confined space trainer redefines training plan

Aircraft fuels systems Airmen assigned to the 100th Maintenance Squadron have to become familiar with claustrophobic work spaces, such as the fuel tanks within the wings of an aircraft, in order to do their jobs. A team of Airmen within the 100th MXG, each contributing from their different sections
July 21, 2017
AF Week in Photos

This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Dec. 12, 2016
Air Mobility Command enables delivery of Israel’s first F-35s

Air Mobility Command Airmen worked around the clock to ensure Israel’s first two F-35 aircraft were delivered Dec. 12, making the U.S. ally the only country in the Middle East flying a fifth generation fighter aircraft. The 618th Air Operations Center, based out of Scott AFB, Illinois, assigned the
March 1, 2016
Becoming a boom

From an early age, Airman 1st Class Shelby Bowling, a 350th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, had an idea of what she wanted to do when she grew up. It wasn't until midway through her time in college that life provided her an opportunity to take a chance.
Feb. 23, 2016
Mildenhall KC-135s support French operation

Three KC-135 Stratotankers, along with 50 Airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, temporarily deployed to Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France, in support of Operation Juniper Micron.
Feb. 9, 2016
KC-135 integral to F-16 training in Greece

The first time the Air Force attempted to refuel an aircraft in flight, aircrews successfully stayed aloft for 151 hours. That was over 85 years ago, and the Air Force today has made quite a few innovations since then.
Jan. 28, 2016
Airmen work in concert to execute rapid global mobility

Airmen like Staff Sgt. Justin Worcester, a KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief, defend their country by making sure the U.S. can quickly move people and equipment around the world at a moment's notice. This is executing rapid global mobility, Air Mobility Command's top priority.
Jan. 8, 2016
KC-135s surpass 100,000 combat hours

The KC-135 Stratotanker fleet at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, flew more than 14,700 sorties in 2015 accumulating 103,419 combat hours in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel.
Jan. 4, 2016
Maintainers keep KC-135s flying downrange

The 340th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, maintains the largest KC-135 Stratotanker fleet in the world of more than 40 aircraft valued at roughly $2 billion.
Sept. 8, 2015
F-22s arrive in Estonia

Two F-22 Raptors and a KC-135 Stratotanker arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, Sept. 5.
Aug. 19, 2015
Tech Report: The KC-46A Pegasus

For over 50 years the KC-135 Stratotanker has been the Air Force's premiere in-flight refueling tanker -- but that's all about to change.
July 3, 2015
Reserve, Guard tankers improve safety with pods

The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve are scheduled to receive three new system pods that will allow tankers to safely get closer to the fight for refueling.
June 8, 2015
New panel repair process expected to save millions

The 424th Supply Chain Management Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, found a new repair process for KC-135 Stratotankers that could save the Air Force millions.
April 25, 2015
New AF maintenance technology keeps aging tankers flying

The 92nd Maintenance Squadron now uses a new technologically advanced parts fabrication machine extending the life of one of the Air Force's oldest airframes -- the KC-135 Stratotanker.
April 17, 2015
What it takes to be a boom operator

Boom operators on an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker have the ability to pump thousands of pounds of fuel to any capable aircraft, thousands of feet above the ground, flying at 200 knots, all while only 47 feet from colliding into each other. However, before any of this is possible, they had to go
March 24, 2015
CSAF visits Arizona’s tanker wing, thanks Guard members

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and his wife, Betty, visited the Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing here March 22, to discuss the future of the Air Force, meet Airmen and their families, and thank them for their service.
Dec. 19, 2014
AMC relocates KC-135 simulator

As Air Mobility Command fields the KC-46A Pegasus, displaced KC-135 Stratotanker pilot simulators will be relocated across the Total Force to maximize simulator access across the mobility enterprise.
Nov. 25, 2014
41 total-force Airmen selected as KC-46 aircrew

Forty-one officers and enlisted members from active duty, Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard have been selected as KC-46 Pegasus initial operational test and evaluation aircrew, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Nov. 24.
Sept. 30, 2014
Altus AFB produces mission capable boom operators

For the past 16 years, the 97th Air Mobility Wing has been the only schoolhouse for training initial KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator students, which trains around 265 Airmen and international students a year.
Sept. 9, 2014
New part to improve old plane, save money along the way

For more than 50 years the KC-135 Stratotanker has been an integral part of the worldwide aerial refueling mission; and from time to time, the aging airframe needs minor touch-ups.
Aug. 22, 2014
Braving the heat, breaking records

Even with the doors open, temperatures inside the KC-135 Stratotanker can rise high enough to safely cook meat. Sweat pours down Airman 1st Class Joseph Swartz's face as he triple checks the work his team just completed on the equally hot metal outside.

U.S. Air Force News