US military 
aircraft, including Air Force C-130s and C-17s, have transported more than four million pounds of humanitarian assistance supplies to Pakistan since July 31 in supporting flood relief efforts there, Vice Adm. Michael LeFever, the top US defense representative in Pakistan, said Wednesday. They have also rescued more than 12,800 people from the nation’s flood-ravaged areas, he told reporters during a briefing in the Pentagon. Making a difference in the flow of relief supplies throughout the country has been the presence of a 36-member team from the 621st Contingency Response Wing at JB McGuire, N.J. Operating at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala, these airmen have at least doubled the number of supply-laden aircraft that can be handled there each day, according to Air Forces Central officials. (Chaklala report by SSgt. Kali Gradishar) (See also Scott report by MSgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
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.