Gen. Tom Hobbins, head of US Air Forces in Europe, believes the Air Force may reduce the number of personnel it plans to cut over the next three years from 40,000 to 27,000. Stars and Stripes reports that Hobbins told airmen at Aviano AB, Italy last week that the planned 2009 end strength now might be 328,000 rather than 315,000. Hobbins was referring to active duty end strength. The widely advertised cut of 40,000 was to include active, reserve, and civilian members. So far, the Air Force has not announced an overall reduction in the number.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
