The United States Air Force has once again reached out to the aerospace sector for fresh perspectives on its proposed next-generation tanker aircraft, issuing a request for information on 15 August 2025 focused on the Next Generation Air-refueling System.
This non-binding solicitation, classified as controlled unclassified information and thus not available to the public, invites companies to submit proposals by 24 October. It specifically probes ideas for the airframe, a fundamental aspect that could shape the entire project’s direction and influence the future composition of the air force’s refuelling fleet.
This marks the most recent in a sequence of market surveys for the Next Generation Air-refueling System programme, managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. An initial request emerged in 2023 to gauge broad interest, followed by targeted inquiries in 2024 concerning engines and mission-related systems. The current call builds on those efforts, zeroing in on the platform’s core structure, which must balance durability, efficiency, and adaptability to meet evolving operational demands. Such requests serve as exploratory tools, helping the air force refine requirements before committing to formal procurement processes.
From its inception, the Next Generation Air-refueling System was conceived with features to allow operations in hostile environments, including some level of stealth to enable tankers to venture closer to contested zones alongside fighter jets. This approach stemmed from lessons learned in recent conflicts, where traditional tankers like the KC-135 and KC-46 often remain at safer distances, limiting their support for deep strikes. Industry responses have included innovative designs; Lockheed Martin has presented concepts ranging from crewed stealth variants to fully unmanned platforms that could reduce risks to personnel while extending reach. Meanwhile, startup JetZero has advocated for its blended wing-body design, which promises greater fuel efficiency and payload capacity through an unconventional shape that integrates wings and fuselage for reduced drag.
However, practical constraints have tempered these ambitions. The air force faces competing priorities, including the development of the F-47 fighter, the B-21 bomber programme, and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile upgrade, all of which strain budgets and resources. Officials have acknowledged that pursuing a fully stealthy tanker might prove too costly or technically demanding in the near term. Major General Joseph D Kunkel, head of Air Force Futures, addressed this in April 2025, describing a pivot toward “survivable air refuelling” that counters the full spectrum of threats rather than relying solely on low observability. This could involve a mix of enhanced networking for better coordination, onboard defensive measures like electronic countermeasures, or off-board support from escorts or decoys, creating a layered system where no single element bears the entire burden of protection.
The air force’s fiscal year 2026 budget request reinforces this adjusted outlook, omitting references to stealth while emphasising alternatives such as stronger data links for resilient operations and improved self-defence features. Any chosen path would tie directly to refined needs emerging from ongoing studies, with the latest request for information contributing to those evaluations as the new fiscal year starts on 1 October, ahead of the submission deadline.
This solicitation arrives amid recent decisions that could steer the programme’s trajectory. In July 2025, the air force opted against a competitive bid to replace its ageing KC-135 tankers, choosing instead to procure additional KC-46s from Boeing. This streamlines short-term recapitalisation but leaves room for the Next Generation Air-refueling System to introduce more advanced capabilities down the line. Meanwhile, the US Navy’s progress with the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueller, designed primarily for carrier-based operations, offers another angle. Boeing has proposed a ground-launched variant that might appeal to the air force, providing a cost-effective way to test autonomous refuelling without developing an entirely new platform from scratch. The Navy’s experiences with the MQ-25, including integration challenges and performance in contested scenarios, will likely inform air force considerations as it weighs options for a family of systems rather than a standalone aircraft.
As the air force sifts through responses to this request for information, the emphasis remains on practicality—delivering tankers that can survive in high-threat areas without breaking the bank or delaying other critical upgrades. The outcome could redefine how the United States sustains its aerial operations, blending innovation with fiscal realism in an era where adversaries increasingly contest the skies. For industry participants, this represents an opportunity to influence a pivotal programme, potentially leading to contracts that extend beyond tankers to encompass broader aerial refuelling ecosystems.
