Two of the new C-130J transports assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, recently deployed to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where they are operating in support of Flintlock 10, a US Africa Command-sponsored multinational interoperability and capacity-building exercise. This event, which runs through May 23 throughout western Africa, marks the unit’s first deployment with its J-model aircraft to Africa for an exercise. “Flintlock is our first opportunity to employ the aircraft in an austere environment for significant durations,” said Maj. Mark Oberson, 37th AS assistant director of operations. Already they have made their mark. “The 130s are making this exercise happen,” said Maj. Randle Tankersley who works plans and operations for 17th Air Force (Air Forces Africa). With them, exercise planners have been able to bring the participants together at multiple exercise locations. (Ramstein report by SSgt. Stefanie Torres)
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.