The light attack armed reconnaissance program may also fall under the budget axe, senior Air Force officials told members of the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces panel Wednesday. The LAAR acquisition strategy, which has not yet been fully approved, is now on hold, said Maj. Gen. Jay Lindell, director of Global Power Programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary (Acquisitions). “As our topline goes down, we are looking at all [programs],” said Lt. Gen. Herbert Carlisle, deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements, during the same panel hearing. “LAAR is no exception.”
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.