An anti-US rally outside Incirlik AB, Turkey, that drew hundreds of protesters Thursday did not disrupt anti-ISIS operations, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Friday. An anti-US mood has been growing in Turkey based on suspected US involvement in the attempted coup there, according to Reuters. The pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper reported the hundreds of Turkish protesters chanted anti-US slogans and burned a US flag, but held a peaceful demonstration. During a press briefing Friday afternoon, Cook said he would not discuss specific security measures, but noted the base has been at an elevated force protection level for some time. “We’ll continue to take every step we need to to make sure our personnel and other coalition personnel are as safe as possible,” he said. Power was cut off from the base after the coup attempt, but airmen were able to use backup generators to launch and recover aircraft until outside power was restored on July 22.
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.