Last 
month, for the first time since late 2001, the 16th Special Operations Squadron had all of its airmen and AC-130H gunships home from combat, according to unit officials. The squadron’s last deployed AC-130H touched down at Cannon AFB, N.M., on Dec. 20, marking the first time since after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 that all of the unit’s assets were stateside, according to a Dec. 21 base release. “Standing here watching everyone come home as the squadron’s commander is an inspiring moment,” said Lt. Col. James Mott, 16th SOS boss. “This will be a really nice break for our troops,” he added. The squadron transferred from Hurlburt Field, Fla., to Cannon in 2009 when it switched to the 27th Special Operations Wing from the 1st SOW. Despite that move, the squadron never missed a deployment, states the release. (Cannon report by SrA. Alexxis Pons Abascal)
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.