During a recent visit to JBSA-Lackland, Texas, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said he believes the service is on the path to forming a major command for the cyber and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. “In about 10 to 12 years, I think we should have a major command focused on information,” he said during an “all call” meeting with airmen at the base. “It should be about collecting it, processing it, and disseminating it.” Welsh noted with the establishment of both 24th Air Force and 25th AF, USAF has “stood up the first two building blocks” towards this goal. Both missions are “the two biggest growth areas in our Air Force,” said Welsh. Approximately 35,000 people now support the ISR enterprise in USAF alone, he noted. The concept of forming a new major command for ISR and cyber has made the rounds in USAF circles for years, but funding and manning requirements have been at issue in the past.
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.