Air Force Space Command concluded its Guardian Challenge combat competition May 19, with award ceremonies on the two days following. The 2010 iteration of the biennial, command-wide event marked the first time that the cyber forces of 24th Air Force, AFSPC’s newest unit, were incorporated into the activities alongside the space forces. At the same time, the Air Force’s ICBM units, which no longer fall under AFPSC, did not participate. Events included contests in areas including space operations, space launch, space acquisition, security forces, space communications, and combat communications. “Guardian Challenge is about innovation, esprit de corps, and teamwork,” all designed to hone skills, said AFSPC boss Gen. Robert Kehler. He added, “The competitors and support personnel have all done a great job this year. I’m very pleased.” (Peterson report by 1st Lt. Jonathan Simmons, including list of winners)
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.