Airmen 
with the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron supporting a deployed contingent of EC-130H Compass Call aircraft at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, have helped these platforms and their aircrews amass impressive statistics in combat operations. Through the maintainers’ efforts, the EC-130s have flown more than 24,000 hours in 4,000 sorties, assisting ground troops in capturing roughly 600 high-value individuals and 4,500 other persons of interest, and in seizing 340 weapons caches, according to unit officials. “Making these milestones happen with an aging fleet and a steady deployment rotation is challenging,” said Capt. Lisa Stokey, 455th EAMXS EC-130H officer in charge. She added, “I can honestly say this is one of the most impressive aircraft maintenance squadrons I’ve ever been a part of.” Compass Call aircraft carry equipment that denies, degrades, or disrupts enemy communications. They left the Iraqi theater in August 2010. (Bagram report by MSgt. Mary Davis)
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.