The Air Force on Aug. 5 plans to inactivate the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center unit that has a 42-year history traveling around the world to repair aircraft that have suffered combat or crash damage, but the mission will continue with a smaller workforce—down from more than 300 people to 56—and as an expeditionary depot maintenance flight at the ALC in Georgia. “We are going to change in size and name, but we are going to retain the capability,” said Maj. Joseph Giuliani, 653rd CLSS commander, remarking that current and former members have “always been a highly skilled, highly trained, well-organized unit.” USAF had five such units but has been inactivating each one, and the last one at the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah will go in October. (Robins AFB, Ga., report by Wayne Crenshaw)
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.