The 62nd Airlift Wing at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., now has 52 C-17 transports in its inventory with the arrival of the newest airframe from Boeing’s C-17 plant in Long Beach, Calif. “We’re always grateful to take delivery of a new aircraft,” said Col. Kevin Kilb, the wing’s commander, during the Aug. 20 arrival ceremony. He added, “This new aircraft will increase our nation’s capacity and capability to execute our airlift mission.” The 62nd AW operates its C-17s together with Air Force Reserve Command’s 446th Airlift Wing under a classic association. Boeing spokesman Jerry Drelling confirmed to the Daily Report Monday that the 62nd AW’s new airframe is the 201st C-17 that the company has delivered to date to the Air Force. So far, USAF has ordered 213 of the 223 C-17s that is plans to procure. (Lewis-McChord photo caption by Amn. Leah Young)
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.