Air Force Space Command’s Guardian Challenge, which kicked off in early March at various locations and runs through May 19, this year has cyberspace forces, all seven wings from AFSPC’s acquisition arm, the Space and Missile Systems Center, and Air National Guard space units. Not appearing this year are ICBM wings that transferred from AFSPC to the new Air Force Global Strike Command in December 2009. AFSPC boss Gen. Bob Kehler noted that the biennial competition “hones our skills” and added that “while only a select few will actually compete at consoles or on ranges, GC season is a total team effort bringing entire wings together and encouraging teamwork across career field lines.” For this competition, the cyber units of newly created 24th Air Force will partner with space wings. Concluding events, including the awards ceremony, will take place at Peterson AFB, Colo. (AFSPC report by 1st Lt. Jonathan Simmons) (Also see, the GC Web site; SMC report by Hien Q. Vu; 67th Network Wing report by SSgt. Patrick Campbell)
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.