Air Force officials at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, have established a Theater Security Cooperation Division to promote bilateral US-Kyrgyz relations through humanitarian assistance, military-to-military activities, and community partnerships. “The TSC will strive tirelessly to build bridges and uncover solutions to important issues for both the United States and the people of Kyrgyzstan,” said Daniel Ginsberg, USAF’s assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, at the division’s stand-up ceremony April 23. Airmen worked 10 months to create the division. Lt. Col. John Elshaw, TSC director, said a top priority is working with local high-ranking Kyrgyz government officials to organize and plan projects. “In the past, we would provide humanitarian assistance anywhere we could,” he said. “Now we’re drafting operating instructions, setting standards and procedures to sustain this operation for the future.” (Manas report by TSgt. Jerome C. Baysmore)
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.