The 
Air Force and its reserve components have met their recruiting goals through the first three quarters of Fiscal 2011, according to the Defense Department’s newest recruiting data, released on Monday. Through June, the service’s active duty component has attracted 21,025 new recruits, matching its accessions target. The Air National Guard also has met its accessions goal so far, bringing in 5,179 accessions. The Air Force Reserve is tracking 12 new recruits ahead of its goal of 6,887 for the fiscal year to date. Among the other services’ active duty forces, the Army has exceeded its accessions goal thus far, while the Marine Corps and Navy are meeting theirs. Among their reserve components, only the Army National Guard has come in short of its year-to-date goal through June. (See also last month’s recruiting numbers.)
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.