The 325th Air Control Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla., unveiled its newest building, the Air Control Squadron Operations Training Complex, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. The $8.5 million, energy-efficient facility offers approximately 36,000 square feet of space. “It combines two out-of-date existing buildings into one,” said Capt. Bryan Minatel, 325th chief of current operations. He added, “It houses five operations rooms used for live and simulation events, totaling 18 classrooms that will be used for briefings, lectures, and debriefings.” In addition, the complex features a 195-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art presentation equipment and numerous offices. “We are now able to produce a better product for the Air Force”—new air battle managers, said Minatel. Tyndall officials broke ground on the building in October 2009. The opening ceremony took place on Jan. 26. (Tyndall report by SrA. Rachelle Elsea)
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.