Members of the 18th Communications Squadron’s cable and antenna systems shop at Kadena AB, Japan, have been replacing the base’s air-to-ground communication antenna towers since the beginning of the year. They are the Air Force’s largest such towers in Pacific Air Forces’ area of responsibility, according to squadron officials. This project is upgrading and, in some cases, replacing the nearly 30-year-old radio transmission and reception towers used for Kadena’s aircraft coordination. “This will provide a more reliable [radio frequency] capability to the air base,” said SSgt. David Hollars, 18th CS antenna systems supervisor. Air traffic controllers will have the ability to coordinate more flight-line traffic than ever before, according to the officials. Another major benefit of the renovation is that the towers will be much more robust in the face of typhoons. Work on the transmission towers is scheduled for completion in mid February. (Kadena report by A1C Maeson L. Elleman)
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.