The Air Force’s air training detachment at Lask AB, Poland, is “emblematic” of the United States’ intent to remain engaged in Europe even as the US military rebalances to the Pacific, said Gen. Philip Breedlove, head US European Command. “Buoyed by the fact that we are now into our third quarterly rotation of the aviation detachment, with plans for the fourth rotation under way, our security relationship [with Poland] has never been closer,” wrote Breedlove in an entry posted at his “From the Cockpit” blog on July 26. “The detachment in Poland, though, represents a wider, broader trend of continued commitment and engagement in Europe,” he wrote. Established last November, the detachment is the first full-time US presence in Poland. “Our engagements with our European allies and partners is rooted in shared history, interests and values, cemented through NATO and the ironclad commitment to our mutual security,” stated Breedlove.
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.