Hanscom AFB, Mass., home to the Electronic Systems Center, will serve as a major host site for the coalition warrior interoperability demonstration that begins today and runs through June 20. The annual Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-sponsored event is a means of testing out new technology that would allow US forces to operate synchronously with interagency units and coalition partners. “CWID is a great, low-cost event that focuses on new technologies that can be transitioned to coalition and other government agency operational environments within 18 months,” said Col. Jeff Hodgdon, director of the 653rd Electronic Systems Wing enterprise integration division. Hanscom will be the lead site for 22 of the 41 trials during this year’s demonstration. Eight nations are participating. (Hanscom report by Chuck Paone)
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.