Bomb Robot Comes to Seymour: The explosive ordinance disposal technicians of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C., recently showed off some new equipment that will help them defuse and disarm explosives. The squad now has a Bomb Squad Emergency Response Vehicle, complete with a bomb disarming robot. The BSERV is built on a fire truck chassis, packed with the robot—or remote ordinance neutralization system—and monitors and cameras to watch and control the robot from a safe distance. The truck also has monitors outside so officials may watch the action without disturbing the technicians working inside. The technology moves the squad into the 21st century, MSgt. Larry Price, the EOD flight chief told the Goldsboro (N.C.) News-Argus. The vehicle can be deployed on either the C-5 or the C-17.
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.