The new Secretary maintains that the Air Force has always been a joint service, but he wants it to seek out new missions instead of “waiting to be asked.” He calls this approach: “aggressively pursuing joint.” The Air Force already provides close air support, aerial mobility and refueling, indirect fire, intelligence, aeromedical evacuation, security, training, tactical communications, contracting, and convoy operations. Now, says Wynne, the question is “should we encroach a little bit more on unfamiliar territory.”
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.
