The commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan, declared force protection condition Bravo for the installation after someone cut a hole in the perimeter fence near the flight line. The heightened security, implemented late last week, came after this discovery and a “series of unusual incidents,” including “surveillance of a base gate and multiple attempts to enter the installation by a pair of unauthorized individuals,” according to a base release. Kadena officials were urging airmen to be aware of their surroundings and contact security forces if they noticed anything unusual. (Kadena report by 2nd Lt. Hope Cronin)
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.