The Air Force has decided that it will take a planned reduction of 50 of its 500 Minuteman missiles from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., reports the Great Falls Tribune. Since the Quadrennial Defense Review revealed Pentagon plans to downsize the Minuteman force, Malmstrom’s 564th Missile Squadron has been considered the likely candidate because it operates a unique missile system, requiring different training and support from Air Force Space Command’s other missile units. Last year, Congress declared that USAF must justify the reduction, and, according to the Tribune, the Air Force turned over its classified report last month, with a response period that ends April 15. The Air Force told the Great Falls newspaper that it would not begin removing the ICBMs before May 23.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.