# Next Generation Air-refueling System > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Next_Generation_Air-refueling_System > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Next_Generation_Air-refueling_System.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Generation_Air-refueling_System > Source revision: 1344719577 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|United States Air Force aerial refueling aircraft program}} [[File:Boeing and 418th Flight Test Squadron conducting ground effects and fuel onload fatigue testing on new KC-46A Pegasus.jpg|thumb|The [KC-10](/source/KC-10) refueling a [KC-46](/source/KC-46), with a [KC-135](/source/KC-135) flying in the background.]] The '''Next Generation Air-refueling System''' ('''NGAS'''), also known as KC-Z, is a [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) program to [procure](/source/procurement) a new [aerial refueling](/source/aerial_refueling) [tanker aircraft](/source/List_of_tanker_aircraft). It is the third increment in a three increment tanker recapitalization plan to replace the Air Force's current aerial refueling aircraft.{{Cite web |title= Next Generation Air-refueling System (NGAS) Request for Information (RFI) |url=https://sam.gov/opp/b4a602a266e4450f861242c45e71fb07/view |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=sam.gov}}{{Cite web |last=D'Urso |first=Stefano |date=2024-05-13 |title= Skunk Works Releases New KC-Z Stealth Tanker Rendering |url=https://theaviationist.com/2024/05/13/skunk-works-release-new-kc-z-stealth-tanker-rendering/ |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=The Aviationist |language=en-US}} == Background == The NGAS is the third step in the three step plan to replace the various aerial refueling tanker aircraft operated by the United States Air Force. The first two increments were the [KC-X](/source/KC-X) program, which selected the [Boeing KC-46 Pegasus](/source/Boeing_KC-46_Pegasus) to replace the [Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker](/source/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker), and the KC-Y program. The vision for the outcome of the procurement plan is traditional tanker aircraft for the bulk of aerial refueling in addition to tanker aircraft that can operate and survive in the same non-permissible [airspace](/source/airspace) as the [fighter aircraft](/source/fighter_aircraft) it would be supporting. The NGAS is intended to fill the second role.{{Cite web |last=Decker |first=Audrey |date=2024-02-15 |title=USAF plans stealthy tankers for ‘extreme threat areas’ |url=https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/02/usaf-plans-stealthy-tankers-extreme-threat-areas/394199/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Defense One |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Tanker aircraft programmes overview |url=https://euro-sd.com/2024/07/articles/39552/tanker-aircraft-programmes-overview/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tirpak |first=John |date=2024-11-09 |title=Skunk Works Uncrewed NGAS Concept Gets New Attention |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/skunk-works-uncrewed-ngas-concept/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Roza |first=David |date=2025-03-06 |title=AMC Finishing Up Analysis for Next-Generation Tanker |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/next-generation-air-refueling-tanker-analysis/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Roza |first=David |date=2025-05-10 |title=JetZero Pitches Blended Wing Body Tanker as 'Game-Changer’ |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/jetzero-air-force-blended-wing-tanker/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US}} General Mike Minihan, commander of the [Air Mobility Command](/source/Air_Mobility_Command), has expressed his desire for expanded roles for the NGAS, including [drone launch](/source/Drone_carrier) and [command and control](/source/command_and_control). == Proposals == On January 31, 2023, the [Department of Defense](/source/United_States_Department_of_Defense) released a [request for information (RFI)](/source/Request_for_information) related to the NGAS program. The RFI states the aircraft will be operational by 2040. It also states the NGAS will be required to operated in "contested scenarios" and requests "innovative solutions in all size and performance classes that might address the stressing mission requirements". Finally, it requires the aircraft to be capable of "[airspeeds](/source/Airspeed) [...] compatible with modern receivers". In May 2024, [Lockheed Martin's](/source/Lockheed_Martin) [Skunk Works](/source/Skunk_Works) division released a conceptual [render](/source/Rendering_(computer_graphics)) of a possible crewed [stealthy](/source/Stealth_aircraft) [flying wing](/source/flying_wing) NGAS design.{{Cite web |title=Funding Crunch Creates Uncertainty For USAF’s Next-Gen Tanker Plans {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/multi-mission-aircraft/funding-crunch-creates-uncertainty-usafs-next-gen-tanker-plans |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=aviationweek.com}} In November of the same year, they released a second conceptual render of a more conventionally designed stealthy optionally-crewed design with two wing-mounted booms.{{Cite web |title=Skunk Works Shows New, Optionally Crewed Tanker Concept {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/skunk-works-shows-new-optionally-crewed-tanker-concept |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=aviationweek.com}} == References == {{Reflist}} Category:Proposed military aircraft of the United States Category:United States military tanker aircraft Category:Military aircraft procurement programs of the United States --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Next Generation Air-refueling System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Generation_Air-refueling_System) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Generation_Air-refueling_System?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.