Contingency response airmen with the North Carolina Air National Guard 145th Airlift Wing helped train the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces how to build an air base and sustain airfield operations as part of Operation Pacific Angel. “We’re here to show them our capabilities and give them the tools to further themselves,” said MSgt. James Bonk, contingency response team lead with the 36th Mobility Response Squadron, based at Andersen AFB, Guam. Covering a 100 million square mile area of responsibility, Pacific Air Forces constantly engages with militaries across the region to enhance interoperability, especially in humanitarian relief operations. Airmen notably discussed airfield management and contingency operations with military and airport officials during the visit Aug. 9. “It’s crucial to have an airfield and to be able to sustain operations in order to get items to people like medical supplies and food when they need it,” said Bonk. (Sihanoukville report by SSgt. Christopher Boitz)
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.