Eight air advisors from the 621st Contingency Response Wing at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst N.J., participated in a 10-day joint aerial supply and medical-readiness exercise in Douala, Cameroon, announced wing officials. Exercise Central Accord 2013, held from Feb. 20 to March 1, was meant to enhance the Cameroon military’s and neighboring central African partner nations’ logistical and resupply capabilities, according to the wing’s March 5 release. During the exercise, Cameroonian airmen successfully conducted the country’s first C-130 aerial delivery, states the release. “Our partner nation counterparts have shown they are very good aviators,” said Maj. Timothy Feltis, commander of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, a component of the wing. “They’ve successfully flown an extremely complex mission in a short period of time, considering the route and challenging drop zone,” he added in discussing the Cameroonians’ airdrop. (JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst report by MSgt. Stan Parker)
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.