Air Force Secretary Michael Donley visited Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Aug. 22 for the first time since he took office four years ago, announced service officials. During the visit, he met with Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa leaders and discussed the critical role airmen are playing in the ongoing war against the al Qaeda terrorist organization. “Our goal is to ensure al Qaeda never again has the opportunity or capacity to attack the US,” said Donley. “We take an active approach [to meet that goal] here.” Donley told airmen their efforts are not lost on Defense Department leaders. “Your Air Force is the envy of every military in the world. We’re committed to ensuring our Air Force remains the greatest air, space, and cyberspace power in the world,” he said. (Camp Lemonnier report by SSgt. R.J. Biermann)
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.