US Northern Command now has lead responsibility for overseeing US military operations in the Arctic under the new unified command plan that President Obama has just approved. UCP 2011 stresses the growing importance of the Arctic. “NORTHCOM was given advocacy responsibility for Arctic capabilities primarily due to having the only US Arctic territory within its area of operations,” said a Pentagon spokesman. US European Command and US Pacific Command shared responsibility with NORTHCOM for the region under the previous UCP that President Bush approved in December 2008. The new plan also assigns NORTHCOM responsibility for Alaska. Previously, NORTHCOM and PACOM divided responsibility for the state and its adjacent waters. Among the other changes, the role of US Strategic Command is strengthened in combating weapons of mass destruction. (AFPS report by Jim Garamone) (White House memorandum)
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.