Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, Air National Guard director, was in California to herald the establishment of March Air Reserve Base as the “centerpiece” for ANG’s evolution into Predator unmanned aerial vehicle operations. At a dedication ceremony Tuesday, McKinley said that ANG personnel from other states destined to pick up a Predator mission will come to March to “learn tactics, techniques, procedures, and how to maintain [the UAVs],” reports the Riverside Press-Enterprise. The 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, formerly the 163rd Air Refueling Wing, at March is the first ANG unit to employ the Predator. Its airmen have been training with active duty Predator units at Creech AFB, Nev.
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.