The Air Force recently reshuffled close air support assets in Afghanistan to meet anticipated demand. “This movement postures close air support to best support the campaign plans in the long and short term,” said Col. Kevin Blanchard, vice commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield. A-10s that had been operating in southern Afghanistan out of Kandahar traded bases with F-16s that had been flying in the north from Bagram Airfield. “The reset should provide the regional commanders’ the best air assets for the environment and operations each will encounter,” added Blanchard. In addition to aircraft, the two units moved a combined 900 personnel and 438 units of cargo without missing a single combat sortie request. (Kandahar report by SSgt. Heather Skinkle and second Kandahar report by Skinkle)
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.