Air Force Space Command on Tuesday activated 24th Air Force, the new numbered air force at Lackland AFB, Tex., that will oversee the Air Force’s cyber operations. Gen. Robert Kehler, AFSPC head, presided over the activation ceremony. The new organization, led by Maj. Gen. Richard Webber, will provide combat-ready forces trained and equipped to conduct sustained cyber operations, fully integrated within air and space operations. Also on Tuesday at Lackland, Webber presided over the redesignation of the Air Force Information Operations Center as the 688th Information Operations Wing and the realignment of the 67th Network Warfare Wing under 24th AF. Lackland was chosen in May as the preferred location of 24th AF headquarters. This decision became final earlier this month with completion of the environmental impact analysis required by law. (Lackland release)
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.