KC 135 Refuels F 35A Over Rockies During Guard Training
A KC 135 Stratotanker conducted an aerial refueling of an F 35A Lightning II over the Rocky Mountains on Jan. 10, 2026, highlighting the Air National Guard’s role in sustaining fifth generation fighter operations across the United States.
The tanker aircraft was assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing, while the receiving aircraft, an F 35A Lightning II, belonged to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing. The operation took place during a routine training mission designed to maintain aircrew readiness and interoperability.
-
Aerial refueling remains a core enabler of U.S. airpower, extending the range and endurance of combat aircraft while reducing reliance on forward bases. For the F 35A, which is increasingly fielded across Guard units, reliable tanker support is critical for both homeland defense and overseas deployments.
The KC 135 Stratotanker, despite its age, continues to serve as the backbone of the U.S. Air Force’s refueling fleet. According to the U.S. Air Force, the aircraft provides fuel to a wide range of receivers, including fighters, bombers, and intelligence platforms, and is expected to remain in service alongside the newer KC 46 Pegasus for years to come.
-
Training missions over complex terrain such as the Rockies add realism, requiring precise formation flying and fuel transfer under challenging weather and altitude conditions. Air National Guard officials regularly note that these missions mirror the demands crews would face during real world operations.
The 115th Fighter Wing was among the first Guard units to transition to the F 35A, marking a major modernization step for state based air defense forces. The Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Wing continues to support both domestic and global missions through its refueling role.
-
L3Harris Navy contract activity continues with a new $9.57 million award to support U.S. Navy F/A-18 aircraft, reinforcing sustainment of the Super Hornet and Growler fleets.
L3Harris Technologies Inc., based in Clifton, New Jersey, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $9,571,947 for the procurement of 74 radio frequency amplifiers. The equipment will support Navy F/A-18E, F, and G aircraft operated across carrier air wings and expeditionary squadrons.
Contract Details and Scope
The contract covers the production and delivery of radio frequency amplifiers used in mission-critical avionics and electronic warfare systems aboard the F/A-18E F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. These components play a key role in signal strength, radar performance, and electronic attack capabilities.
All work under the L3Harris Navy contract will be performed in Clifton, New Jersey. Completion is scheduled for April 2027. The agreement does not include option provisions, indicating a defined production scope tied to current fleet requirements.
Fiscal 2026 Navy working capital funds will fully cover the contract value at the time of award. According to the Navy, the funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Acquisition Strategy and Oversight
The Navy pursued the procurement as a sole-source requirement under the authority of Title 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1). One source was solicited, and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is serving as the contracting activity.
Sole-source awards of this type are common for specialized avionics tied to proprietary designs or certified aircraft configurations, particularly for mature platforms like the F/A-18 family.
Platform Sustainment Context
The F/A-18E F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler remain central to U.S. Navy carrier aviation and airborne electronic warfare. Ongoing investments in avionics, sensors, and electronic systems are intended to maintain readiness as the Navy transitions toward next-generation platforms.
VH-92A engine torque testing is moving forward after the US Navy awarded Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. a not-to-exceed $21.6 million cost reimbursable undefinitized order to support test and certification work on the VH-92A Patriot helicopter program.
Contract Details and Scope
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin subsidiary based in Stratford, Connecticut, received the award under a previously issued basic ordering agreement. The order supports instantaneous access to 105 percent Transient Engine Torque testing and certification activities tied to planned modifications on the VH-92A aircraft.
The work focuses on validating engine performance margins needed to meet demanding mission profiles and safety standards for the Navy’s executive transport helicopter fleet. The VH-92A serves as the replacement for the legacy VH-3D and VH-60N helicopters.
Workshare and Schedule
According to the Navy, contract work will be performed across multiple US locations. The largest share will take place in Lynn, Massachusetts, accounting for 44 percent of the effort, followed by Stratford, Connecticut, at 36 percent. Additional work will occur in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and New Jersey.
The project is expected to be completed by July 2027.
Funding and Oversight
At the time of award, the Navy obligated $5 million in fiscal year 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation funds. These funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Maryland, is serving as the contracting activity, overseeing execution and compliance.
Program Context
The VH-92A engine torque testing effort supports ongoing maturation of the platform as the Navy continues to refine performance, reliability, and certification standards. Sikorsky remains the prime contractor for the VH-92A, which is operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One in support of presidential and executive transport missions.
Germany to Acquire Eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian Drones
Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, working with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, has agreed to buy eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
The deal, announced January 12, includes four certifiable ground control stations, with first deliveries scheduled for 2028. The procurement is part of NATO’s broader long-endurance unmanned aircraft expansion and will support German maritime reconnaissance and related missions.
What Germany Is Buying
The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft designed for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The system offers long range and endurance, wide-area maritime sensors, pole-to-pole satellite control, and cold-climate operations. It can be equipped with anti-submarine warfare sensors if needed.
The package for Germany includes:
- Eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs
- Four ground control stations
- Support and sustainment services through the NATO Support Partnership framework managed by NSPA.
Broader Fleet and NATO Context
Germany’s decision places it alongside other NATO nations selecting the MQ-9B family of unmanned aircraft, including Belgium, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. The SeaGuardian and its variants such as SkyGuardian are part of a growing multinational fleet intended for shared training and operations.
In 2025, the MQ-9B became the first large remotely piloted aircraft to receive a Military Type Certificate from the United Kingdom’s Military Aviation Authority. This certification allows operation without geographic limits, including over populated areas in domestic airspace.
Operational Use and Integration
German officials see the MQ-9B SeaGuardian as a complement to the country’s fleet of manned Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, adding persistent unmanned surveillance to long-range ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) missions.
Procurement is structured through NSPA to streamline multinational acquisition and support. The MQ-9 Support Partnership mechanism aims to enhance interoperability and supply chain cooperation among participating NATO members.
China PADJ-X Software Targets B-21 Bomber Design
Chinese researchers claim a domestically developed stealth design tool has identified potential design vulnerabilities in the U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider bomber, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The analysis is based on computer modeling rather than classified data and has not been independently verified.
The study centers on PADJ-X, a Chinese software platform designed to assess radar cross-section and electromagnetic characteristics of advanced aircraft shapes. Researchers involved say the tool can rapidly test stealth configurations and highlight areas that may increase radar exposure under certain conditions.
Claims Based on Open Modeling, Not Real B-21 Data
According to the report, the researchers modeled a bomber configuration believed to resemble the B-21 Raider using publicly available imagery and assumptions about stealth design principles. The team said their simulations suggested that some structural features could create localized increases in radar signature, depending on angle and frequency band.
The authors acknowledged the limitations of their work, noting that the actual B-21 bomber remains highly classified. Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force have not released detailed design data, making any external assessment inherently speculative.
U.S. Officials Remain Silent on Chinese Analysis
There has been no response from the U.S. Department of Defense or Northrop Grumman regarding the claims. Defense analysts contacted by SCMP cautioned that modeling based on incomplete information cannot accurately reflect the performance of an operational stealth aircraft.
The B-21 Raider is designed to penetrate advanced air defense systems and is expected to incorporate low-observable features, advanced materials, and electronic warfare capabilities that go beyond external shaping alone.
Broader Context of China–U.S. Stealth Competition
The publication of the PADJ-X study highlights China’s push to advance its own stealth design and simulation tools as competition intensifies between major powers in long-range strike and bomber technology. China is believed to be developing its own next-generation stealth bomber, often referred to as the H-20, though details remain scarce.
Experts note that claims about adversary vulnerabilities are common in academic and military research but rarely reflect real-world performance without access to classified data and testing environments.
Northrop Grumman Delivers 1,500th F 35 Center Fuselage
Northrop Grumman has delivered its 1,500th F 35 center fuselage, marking a major production milestone for the F 35 Lightning II program and the broader U.S. and allied fighter fleet.
The center fuselage is a critical structural section of the aircraft, integrating the cockpit, weapons bays, and key avionics. Northrop Grumman produces the component at its Integrated Assembly Line in Palmdale, California, before shipping it to Lockheed Martin for final aircraft assembly.
According to the company, the delivery reflects more than a decade of continuous manufacturing in support of the Joint Strike Fighter program. The F 35 center fuselage is common across all three variants of the aircraft, including the conventional takeoff F 35A, the short takeoff and vertical landing F 35B, and the carrier based F 35C.
Northrop Grumman stated that its role in the F 35 program extends beyond fuselage production. The company also provides the AN APG 81 active electronically scanned array radar, communications subsystems, and mission systems integration support. These components are central to the aircraft’s stealth, sensor fusion, and multi domain capabilities.
The F 35 program remains the largest fighter aircraft program in the world, with more than 1,000 aircraft delivered globally and operators across the U.S. military and allied air forces. Sustained delivery of the F 35 center fuselage supports ongoing production lots and long term fleet growth.
Industry officials have consistently highlighted the importance of production stability and supply chain resilience as the program transitions toward sustainment and modernization. The 1,500th fuselage delivery underscores the maturity of the industrial base supporting the F 35.
Mach Industries’ Dart counter-drone system is designed to defeat mass drone swarms and evolving small unmanned aerial system threats for U.S. and allied forces. The system combines detection, tracking, and kinetic engagement in a scalable package.
New Scalable Counter-UAS for High-Volume Threats
Mach Industries rolled out Dart™, a next-generation counter-UAS platform intended to handle Group 1-3 drones, including coordinated swarms that can overwhelm legacy defenses.
The system integrates Mach’s Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave ground radar with low-cost interceptors to offer a sensor-to-engage chain from detection to neutralization.
Designed for End-to-End Operations
Dart is self-contained and built for high throughput in contested or denied environments. It is meant to work where existing missile defenses may struggle economically or operationally.
Deployments can be scaled from single units to multiple systems protecting forward operating bases, distributed outposts, and critical infrastructure sites. The design supports parallel engagements and high track-and-engage capacity against both swarm attacks and higher-performance Group 3 targets.
Production and Integration
Mach Industries plans to produce Dart using its vertically integrated Forge manufacturing ecosystem. This approach is intended to speed production, support rapid iteration, and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities.
Context in Modern Air Defense
Swarm drone threats have emerged as a growing challenge for militaries, as low-cost UAVs can saturate traditional air defense systems. Integrating a scalable, kinetic counter-UAS layer like Dart fits broader efforts to build layered defenses that can sustain high intercept demands without prohibitive costs.
Navy F-35 Pilots Train to Control Drones from Cockpit Tablets
Navy F-35 pilots have successfully completed training to operate multiple drones directly from their fighter jet cockpits using touchscreen tablets. This milestone marks a significant step in integrating unmanned systems into tactical aviation.
The training took place at the Pentagon’s Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Maryland. The JSE uses advanced modeling and simulation to give pilots realistic mission experience in a secure setting. Rear Adm. Todd Evans, NAWCAD commander, noted the training equips aviators with modern tactics essential for future conflicts.
Pilots used tablets to command several Collaborative Combat Aircraft simultaneously. These autonomous drones, equipped with artificial intelligence, act as “loyal wingmen,” coordinating strikes and sharing targeting data in real time. During exercises, both pilots and drones engaged in simulated combat, executing precision-guided attacks.
Last year, U.S. Air Force pilots integrated Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drones into joint training at Eglin Air Force Base, while Marine F-35 and Air Force F-22 pilots practiced combined operations at the JSE for the first time. The Navy plans to expand the JSE to include aircraft like the EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
This training emphasizes tactical human-machine teaming, highlighting the growing role of AI-driven unmanned systems in naval aviation. By mastering drone control from the cockpit, pilots enhance mission flexibility and maintain an edge in complex air combat scenarios.
Royal Navy Proteus Drone First Flight in January
The Royal Navy Proteus drone is now expected to complete its first flight in January 2026, UK Ministry of Defence officials confirmed. The Proteus uncrewed helicopter demonstrator has been developed to explore large autonomous vertical take-off and landing operations in maritime environments.
Demonstrator for Future Naval Aviation
The Proteus uncrewed helicopter is part of a UK Defence Innovation programme backed with about 140 million pounds in funding, aimed at advancing rotary-wing unmanned systems. Defence minister Luke Pollard noted that no weapon system has been selected for Proteus yet, as the project focuses on data collection and technology evaluation rather than immediate operational deployment.
Proteus will test a high degree of autonomy and modular payload integration planned to support a range of warfighting and support roles, including maritime surveillance and other missions. The aircraft is sized similar to a standard helicopter and designed to collect experience and technical insights for future operational platforms.
Role in Maritime Aviation Transformation
Proteus is being developed under the UK Ministry of Defence’s broader Maritime Aviation Transformation strategy, geared toward modernizing naval aviation with uncrewed systems through 2040. The demonstrator’s trials will inform how large autonomous rotorcraft might be integrated into future fleets for surveillance, anti-submarine roles, and other tasks at sea.
What Comes After First Flight
While the Proteus drone is not slated for immediate service, the insights from its flight tests will guide development of next-generation uncrewed maritime helicopters. Officials say data from Proteus will help shape future platforms intended for both surveillance and strike roles over the next decade.
USS Midway Legacy and Modern US Airpower
The F-22 Fighter Jet stands at the center of current US airpower, but its story connects to a longer lineage that began with aircraft carriers like USS Midway. Commissioned in 1945, USS Midway shaped how the US Navy projected airpower across oceans for decades. That legacy still matters today as the Pentagon balances fighter jet contracts, base readiness, and pilot training across the Air Force and Navy.
While USS Midway itself is now a museum, the operational concepts it supported, sustained sortie generation, forward deployment, and joint force integration, remain core to US fighter operations. Modern stealth fighters now deploy from land bases rather than decks, but the strategic logic is familiar.
USS Midway and the Evolution of Carrier-Based Airpower
USS Midway was designed to operate heavier and faster aircraft than earlier carriers. During the Cold War, it supported jets such as the F-4 Phantom II and later the F A 18 Hornet. These aircraft represented major steps in speed, radar capability, and weapons integration.
The carrier’s long service life reflected continuous adaptation. Flight deck modifications, improved arresting gear, and updated command systems allowed Midway to remain relevant as aircraft grew larger and more complex. This adaptability set a pattern the US military still follows when integrating new fighter platforms.
Although the f-22 fighter jet is not carrier capable, its development benefited from lessons learned in earlier eras about sustainment, sortie rates, and pilot workload, many of which were refined aboard carriers like Midway.
F-22 Fighter Jet Role in Today’s Force Structure
The F-22 fighter jet remains the primary US air dominance platform. Entering service in the mid 2000s, it was designed to counter advanced adversary aircraft through stealth, supercruise, integrated sensors, and high agility.
Unlike multirole fighters, the F 22 focuses on air superiority first. It can strike ground targets, but its main mission is to control contested airspace, escort other assets, and deny adversaries the ability to operate aircraft or cruise missiles.
Key characteristics include:
- Low observable airframe optimized for radar evasion
- Supercruise capability above Mach 1 without afterburner
- Advanced avionics that fuse radar, electronic support, and data links
- High maneuverability for close range engagements
These features place the F 22 among the fastest US fighter jet platforms in operational service, especially when sustained speed and combat effectiveness are considered together.
Fastest US Fighter Jet Claims and Reality
The phrase fastest US fighter jet is often used loosely. Historically, aircraft like the F 15 and retired F 14 reached very high top speeds under specific conditions. The F 22 does not chase raw speed records, but its ability to supercruise gives it a real operational advantage.
Sustained supersonic flight without afterburner reduces fuel consumption and infrared signature. This allows the f-22 fighter jet to arrive earlier, remain longer, and engage with less warning. In modern air combat, this matters more than peak speed numbers.
Pentagon officials have consistently emphasized that speed, stealth, sensors, and networking must be evaluated as a system rather than isolated statistics.
Fighter Jet Pilot Training and Readiness
Operating the f-22 fighter jet requires extensive pilot training. F 22 pilots transition from other advanced fighters and undergo specialized instruction focused on sensor management, beyond visual range tactics, and joint operations.
Unlike earlier eras, pilots now manage large volumes of data while flying. Sensor fusion reduces workload, but decision making remains complex. Training exercises increasingly integrate cyber, electronic warfare, and space based inputs.
Readiness is also shaped by flight hours, maintenance availability, and simulator access. High fidelity simulators now play a central role, allowing pilots to rehearse scenarios that cannot be safely replicated in live flights.
Selfridge Base Fighter Jets and National Guard Readiness
Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan is a key node in US air defense and readiness. While it does not host F 22 aircraft, its fighter jets support homeland defense missions and joint exercises.
Selfridge base fighter jets readiness has drawn attention in recent years due to aircraft transitions and infrastructure investments. The base supports air sovereignty alert missions, training deployments, and integration with active duty forces.
From a strategic perspective, bases like Selfridge free high end assets such as the f-22 fighter jet to focus on overseas contingencies while maintaining credible domestic coverage.
Pentagon Fighter Jet Contract Landscape
The Pentagon fighter jet contract environment remains active as the US balances legacy sustainment with future platforms. Production of the F 22 ended in 2012, but contracts continue for upgrades, maintenance, and capability enhancements.
Current efforts include:
- Sensor and avionics modernization
- Improved data links for joint and allied operations
- Sustainment initiatives to raise mission capable rates
At the same time, investment is shifting toward next generation air dominance programs. Lessons from the F 22 program strongly influence these efforts, especially in cost control, modular upgrades, and industrial base resilience.
USS Midway Lessons Applied to Modern Deployments
The connection between USS Midway and modern fighters is not symbolic alone. Midway demonstrated how forward presence, logistics, and trained personnel create deterrence. Today, the same logic applies to rotational deployments of the f-22 fighter jet to Europe, the Indo Pacific, and the Middle East.
These deployments reassure allies and complicate adversary planning. They also stress test sustainment chains and command structures, much like extended carrier deployments once did.
Analysis: Strategic Value of the f-22 Fighter Jet Today
Despite its limited numbers, the f-22 fighter jet continues to deliver outsized strategic value. Potential adversaries must account for its presence even when it is not forward deployed. This uncertainty shapes air defense planning and investment decisions.
However, challenges remain. Aging airframes, supply chain constraints, and workforce issues affect readiness. The Air Force must balance near term upgrades with long term transition planning.
In this context, the F 22 mirrors the late career phase of USS Midway. Both platforms remained highly capable, but required careful management to extend relevance without overcommitment. The key lesson is that dominance platforms demand sustained investment long after initial procurement ends.
FAQs
What makes the f-22 fighter jet different from other US fighters?Its combination of stealth, supercruise, sensor fusion, and agility is unmatched in the US inventory.
Is the f-22 fighter jet the fastest US fighter jet?It may not have the highest top speed, but its sustained supersonic capability gives it a practical speed advantage.
Why was F 22 production stopped?Budget constraints and shifting priorities led the Pentagon to cap production at 187 aircraft.
Do fighter jet pilots need different training for the F 22?Yes, F 22 pilots require specialized training focused on data management and advanced air combat tactics.
How does USS Midway relate to modern fighter deployments?Midway established operational concepts of forward presence and sustained airpower that still guide deployments today.
