Gen. William Fraser said he’s happy with the current status of the F-35 fighter. The Air Combat Command boss said Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference, “I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing in some of the … tests out at Edwards. … They are meeting the test points … and numbers of sorties.” He said all indicators are now “pointing in the right direction.” However, ACC will “continue to stay very engaged with joint program office” to make sure “we … have our voice heard” about the fighter’s progress and capabilities, added Fraser. The Air Force will fly the lion’s share of F-35s in the US, with some 1,763 of a planned 2,443.
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.