There’s something odd about the Air Force’s just released 2008 unfunded priority list and its two latest supplemental funding requests—they duplicate requests for some aircraft. Air Force spokesperson Maj. Dayan Araujo confirmed yesterday that the UPL and the 2007 spring supplemental and 2008 global war on terror supplemental include requests for the same 20 C-130Js. Araujo explained in response to query that USAF “used the UPL to re-emphasize this high priority need to Congress.” She went on to say the same applies to five CV-22s that are found in the UPL and 2008 supplemental. Again, it was a case of “reinforcing the urgency of this requirement,” said Araujo.
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.
