Lockheed Martin Drops Out of Air Force 'Bridge Tanker' Competition

Its LMXT strategic aerial refueling tanker had been expected to take on Boeing's KC-46 as a contender for an interim update under the KC-135 fleet recapitalization program.

Kimberly Johnson

Monday, October 23, 2023 at 01:56 PM ET

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LMXT Strategic Tanker [Credit: Lockheed Martin]

Key Takeaways:

Lockheed Martin has withdrawn from the U.S. Air Force's "bridge tanker" program competition.
The company will instead focus its resources on developing a Next Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) concept.
Airbus, Lockheed Martin's partner for the LMXT tanker, announced its intention to proceed independently with a bid for the bridge tanker program.
The bridge tanker program aims to acquire at least 75 interim refueling aircraft as a stopgap before a truly next-generation tanker is introduced in the 2040s.

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Lockheed Martin is bowing out of competing for the U.S. Air Force’s “bridge tanker” program and instead focusing on developing a next generation air-refueling system (NGAS) concept, the company announced Monday.

The manufacturer’s LMXT strategic aerial refueling tanker, unveiled in 2021 and based on an Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, had been expected to take on Boeing KC-46 Pegasus as a stopgap refueling option for the Air Force in seeking an update for its aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.