The 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB, Fla., has revised its mission statement to reflect its forthcoming transition from an F-22 pilot training unit into one that operates both the F-22 schoolhouse as well as a squadron of combat-ready F-22s. The new mission statement reads: “to train and project unrivaled combat power.” It replaces the statement that said the wing’s primary mission was “to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to support the combat Air Force.” In Fiscal 2013, Tyndall will switch from Air Education and Training Command to Air Combat Command as it gains a squadron of combat-ready F-22s that are relocating from Holloman AFB, N.M. “It is an exciting time here at Tyndall AFB,” said Brig. Gen. John McMullen, 325th FW commander, in a May 10 release. “We will continue to generate and deploy combat power and guarantee team Tyndall mission support, while developing professional airmen and taking care of airmen and their families.” (Tyndall report by A1C Christopher Reel) (For more on the F-22s coming to Tyndall, read Moving Time from Air Force Magazine’s 2011 archive.)
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.