US Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took command of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan in June, last week turned over the strategic assessment requested by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates and JCS Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen reminded Pentagon reporters Sept. 3 that the report is not a resources request. Gates said that he expected to send his views and that of senior military leaders to the White House early this week, adding, “I expect that any request for additional resources would follow after this process and be similarly discussed by the President’s national security team.” Mullen said that McChrystal has offered “in frank and candid terms how he believes his forces can best accomplish the mission the President has assigned to him.” (Press briefing transcript)
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.