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A STRONG OFFENSE FOR THE WORLD OF DEFENSE

April 17, 2026 The U.S. Army is considering configuring at least a portion of its new MV-75A Cheyenne II tiltrotors to be able to refuel in flight using the probe-and-drogue method. This, in turn, has raised the question of how the service will ensure there is adequate tanker capacity to support that capability. Army officials and the MV-75A’s prime contractor, Bell, have both now pointed to a future where tanker drones like the U.S. Navy’s forthcoming MQ-25 Stingray could help extend the Cheyenne II’s reach. Army Maj. Gen. Clair Gill discussed aerial refueling capability for the MV-75A, as well as other aspects of the Cheyenne II, during a talk at the Army Aviation Association of America’s (AAAA) 2026 Warfighting Summit, which TWZ attended. Find our full coverage from AAAA here. The Army plans to replace a substantial portion of its H-60 Black Hawk helicopters with the MV-75A in the coming years. Read the full story here. Be sure to follow our latest rolling coverage on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing blockade here.

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From the Archive

The USS Ranger Sailed With A Unique “Grumman Air Wing” In The Mid 1980s

The same year USS Ranger became the star of Topgun, the carrier sailed with a air wing made up almost entirely of Grumman aircraft.

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Hot Shots

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion unloads Marines during a simulated air assault at Korean Marine Exchange Program 26.1 in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Paz-Sosa

U.S. Marine Corps M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) taxis down the flight line during a rapid infiltration exercise at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. USMC photo by Cpl. Seferino Gamez

A Gunner’s Mate fires a Mk 38 25mm machine gun during a live fire exercise aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anthony Wright