A tornado struck Little Rock AFB, late Monday, injuring three people, battering three C-130s, and damaging more than 40 homes, base spokesman SrA. Jim Araos told the Daily Report. All three people suffered only minor injuries and have received medical treatment. Officials are still trying to determine the full extent of the damage to the C-130s, something they won’t be able to determine until they take apart the aircraft and examine them, Araos said. The majority of the destruction happened in the base housing area. The tornado literally split some houses in half, tore the roof off of others, and tossed entire trees through rooms. Base officials have placed families whose homes were damaged in temporary lodging until they can find a new home, said Araos. The base exchange and the commissary also received “extensive damage” and remain closed, he said. Cars were flipped during the tornado and continue to litter the base. The National Weather Service is calling for more severe weather in Little Rock through Wednesday, including the possibility of another tornado.
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.