That’s how Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, described the work done by current and past airmen at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan since coalition operations began there in 2001. During an airman’s call on Oct. 21 on his first visit to the region since becoming the service’s top uniformed official, Schwartz said that the “economy of force operation” that evolved in that country is “about to change [to become] the main focus of activity in Central Command’s area of responsibility.” He called Bagram the “engine” of Air Force and other service activities in the region. (Bagram report by SSgt. Rachel Martinez)
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.