The Air Force on May 7 began Schriever Wargame VI, this year’s iteration of its recurring space wargame. The Space Innovation and Development Center, located at Schriever AFB, Colo., conducts the event, which runs through Wednesday, at Nellis AFB, Nev. There are approximately 350 participants—mostly US military and civilian experts, but also some representatives from Australia, Britain, and Canada. The wargame’s goal is to explore critical space issues that the US expects to face circa 2022. Its classified scenarios will: investigate space and cyberspace alternative concepts, capabilities, and force postures; examine the contributions of space and cyberspace to future deterrent strategies; and explore comprehensive approaches beyond just military actions to protect and execute operations in space and cyberspace domains. These wargames are “an important tool that helps us understand a very complex operational environment,” said Gen. Robert Kehler, Air Force Space Command boss. (Peterson release)
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.