Hawker Beechcraft of Wichita, Kan., has signed an agreement with the Salina Airport Authority in Salina, Kan., to use the airport and its airspace to train Air Force pilots and maintainers if the company wins the contract to supply USAF’s Light Air Support aircraft. “Salina and the surrounding area have every resource we need to produce combat-ready pilots and maintainers,” said Derek Hess, the company’s director for light attack, in a release. Hawker Beechcraft is offering the Air Force the AT-6 light attack aircraft in the competition. Service officials evaluated the AT-6 last year. The Air Force is expected award the contract by mid year. Service officials seek a non-developmental aircraft optimized for roles like surveillance and close air support that airmen can use to train members of partner air forces.
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.