Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, and CMSAF James Roy on Tuesday issued a message to airmen commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “This tragic event altered our view of the world and sparked a global effort to combat terrorism and the conditions that give rise to extremism. We are proud of the international efforts that have led to the capture or killing of many of the terrorist leaders, but our success has not come without significant cost,” they state. “As we reflect on the horrific day that marked the beginning of our struggle to better secure the world from these threats, we honor the tremendous selfless service that today still distinguishes American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen, comprising the most dedicated, professional, and powerful military force in the world. We also recognize that the need for sacrifice is not over.” (See also Airmen on 9/11, the feature article commemorating the 10th anniversary of the attacks, from Air Force Magazine’s September issue.)
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.