A wildfire burned power lines and fiberoptic cables supporting training grounds northwest of Eielson AFB, Alaska, but did not damage base structures, according to base spokesman MSgt. Jason Vaught. The Stuart Creek 2 fire “hasn’t had any impact to the residents or any of our normal operations,” Vaught told the Daily Report on July 29. “We’ve been working closely with the Bureau of Land Management to ensure that there’s no danger to the base and . . . to ensure our residents are safe,” he said. Plans for the upcoming Red Flag-Alaska exercise, scheduled for Aug. 8 to Aug 23, continue, he said. Stuart Creek 2 started on June 19 in the Yukon Training Area, reported the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Vaught said he was unsure when technicians would repair the damaged lines and cables since firefighters were still battling the wildfire.
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.