US airmen, marines, and soldiers were among the 200 paratroopers from six NATO countries who participated in International Jump Week, Aug. 8-11. It was the third annual jump week hosted by the 435th Contingency Response Group, which falls under the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing based at Ramstein AB, Germany. Throughout the week, paratroopers from the US, Germany, England, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands jumped out of aircraft from Papa AB, Hungary, Peterson AFB, Colo., and the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein. “Building these partnerships with our allies is just as important as jumping,” said Col. John Shapalnd, 435th AGOW commander. “It’s great because jumpers from all over get to share experiences … jumps, and war stories with each other. That bond is resilient and lasting.”
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.