Members of the 823rd RED HORSE squadron from Hurlburt Field, Fla., spent two weeks at Maxwell AFB, Ala., renovating field training sites. The 17 visiting engineers demolished tents at Maxwell’s Vigilant Warrior and Blue Thunder cantonment areas, erected semi-cylindrical shelters, and installed electricity, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, according to an Aug. 17 release. The RED HORSE crew was able to complete projects that base officials had to postpone for years due to fiscal and contractual constraints, said Lt. Col. John Blackwell, commander of Maxwell’s 22nd Training Support Squadron. “It’s a big deal for us and a big deal for them,” he said. “This is a two-year problem they’re solving in two weeks.” Each year, some 3,200 Air University students will benefit from these changes, said Blackwell. (Maxwell report by Kelly Deichert)
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.