Apparently discussions between Michigan legislators and Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, head of the National Guard Bureau, convinced Blum that he should recommend that the Pentagon station some of the new Joint Cargo Aircraft at the Air National Guard facility in Battle Creek, according to Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Mich.). (We reported on the Michigan sales pitch last month.) The Enquirer reports that Schwarz on Wednesday publicly stated that the effort had NGB backing. ANG’s 110th Fighter Wing at Battle Creek stands to lose its A-10 Warthogs by 2009 under BRAC 2005.
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.
