The 688th Information Operations Wing at Lackland AFB, Tex., is now one-year old, having just celebrated its first anniversary. “While there have been cultural challenges, the professional men and women of the 688th have risen to the task and made incredible strides over the last year,” said Col. Robert Skinner, the wing’s commander. The wing comprises the 318th Information Operations Group, 38th Cyberspace Engineering Group, and wing staff. It is establishing the foundation for “full-spectrum, operational cyber excellence.” The first-year strides include deploying about 170 of its airmen overseas and incorporating cyber operations into almost every Red Flag training exercise. Further, the 318th IOG created a computer-based training course to help transition personnel into USAF’s new cyberspace specialty codes. More than 1,200 students were trained in the first six months, and more than 7,000 airmen will be trained next year. (Lackland report by Capt. Christopher Corbett)
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.