New AI and video tech is taking the danger and guesswork out of this punishing Air Force job that hasn't changed in 50 years

"Inside some of the Air Force's oldest refueling aircraft, technicians are crawling through tight, dirty spaces, painstakingly cleaning sealant on fuel tanks and tightening loose rivets. They climb into the dark, cramped tanks with little more than a flashlight, some tools, and shaky comms. It can be hard to breathe, the air smells like jet fuel, the fixes aren't always clear, and the punishing work can be dangerous if done wrong."

"It's a job that hasn't changed much in over 50 years, but new gear, including a live-feed video headset and artificial intelligence-enabled technology, is finally bringing it into the 21st century. The Integrated Respirator Information System, known as IRIS and developed by MetroStar and ActionStreamer, is speeding up the maintenance process, company officials and Air Force technicians say, and making it safer and more efficient."

"Tankers are important logistics assets, what the Air Force calls "silent enablers," that support missions by helping keep fighters and bombers airborne for longer than the onboard fuel tanks can sustain alone. For instance, Operation Midnight Hammer, which saw US stealth bombers strike Iran's nuclear site this year, involved dozens of refueling tankers supporting the strike package. Although fighter aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter or bombers like the B-2 Spirit get the most attention,"

Technicians perform hazardous, cramped maintenance inside aging KC-135 refueling tanks, cleaning sealant, tightening rivets, and coping with poor air and limited communications. New equipment such as live-feed video headsets and artificial intelligence-enabled tools accelerate inspections, assist repairs, and enhance safety for maintainers working in confined, fuel-scented spaces. The Integrated Respirator Information System (IRIS), built by MetroStar and ActionStreamer, delivers real-time feeds and AI assistance to speed maintenance. Tankers serve as logistics "silent enablers" that extend fighter and bomber range, and complex operations have relied on dozens of refueling tankers. Two maintainers adapted existing streaming gear to originate IRIS.

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