Lt. Gen. John Raymond has been nominated to take over Air Force Space Command, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said during a Wednesday briefing before the official Pentagon announcement. If confirmed, Raymond will receive his fourth star and replace Gen. John Hyten, who is leaving the post for an unannounced position. Raymond has served as the deputy chief of staff for operations since August 2015, and has been the commander of 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) and the director of plans and policy for US Strategic Command. Hyten has overseen large-scale changes since taking command in August 2014, such as opening up National Security Space launches to private competition.
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.