The Air Force has chosen Boeing’s 767-based NewGen Tanker to be its new KC-X aerial refueling aircraft under an acquisition program with an estimated value of more than $30 billion. Secretary Michael Donley announced the decision during a Pentagon briefing Thursday. Boeing won out over EADS North America, which offered its A330-based tanker model. Boeing has received a contract valued at more than $3.5 billion for the KC-X engineering and manufacturing development phase. The current schedule is to have Boeing deliver 18 of the planned 179 new tankers by 2017. Donley said USAF is designating the new tanker as the KC-46A. More tanker coverage to come.
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
