A KC-135 tanker refueled a Navy F-35C strike fighter for the first time, announced F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The hook-up took place on Aug. 20 near NAS Patuxent River, Md., with Lt. Col. Patrick Moran piloting the F-35C airframe, CF-1, for the coupling with the tanker, states the company’s Aug. 23 release. With this, all three variants—Air Force’s F-35A, Marine Corps’ F-35B, and Navy’s F-35C—have now taken on fuel from the KC-135, according to the company. Earlier this month, the first F-35C local training sortie took place at the F-35 schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla.
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…