Air Mobility Command inactivated the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., consolidating its units and missions under the Air Force Expeditionary Center at the joint base. The standdown is part of a broader restructuring of 18th Air Force’s mobility mission. “These changes represent a more effective and efficient way of carrying out our global air mobility mission,” said Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, 18th AF commander, at Monday’s inactivation ceremony. “At the same time, these changes give the Expeditionary Center responsibility for a portfolio of missions which truly reflect their core competencies: contingency response, expeditionary combat support training, en-route and installation support, and building partnerships,” he added. As a result of the inactivation, the base’s 621st Contingency Response Wing, and the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing at Ramstein AB, Germany, formerly assigned to the task force, now report to AFEC. (McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst release)
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.