Air Force officials launched construction projects last week at Kadena AB, Japan, and the Air Force Research Lab’s research site in Rome, N.Y. Kadena officials on Aug. 10 held the groundbreaking for the new Erwin Professional Military Education Center that will bring the base’s NCO academy and airmen leadership school under one roof when completed in May 2010. On Aug. 12, officials with the AFRL’s Information Directorate held a ceremony in Rome to mark the start of construction to add 28,000 sq. ft. to the directorate’s existing complex and alter an additional 18,600 sq. ft. of existing facilities to accommodate new laboratory and support facilities. (Kadena report by report by TSgt. Rey Ramon and Wright-Patterson photo caption.)
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.