Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) issued a statement yesterday praising the Air Force action that would keep the Air National Guard’s 118th Airlift Wing flying. (See above.) Alexander said the “decision is the right way to honor and continue [the 118th’s] flying legacy” … and the community will keep 700 jobs.” He credited former Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, Gov. Phil Bredesen, and the other Volunteer State lawmakers for making this happen. According to the statement, the 118th may train “as many as 150 international military students annually, with the first class scheduled to graduate in mid-2008.” The unit also will continue to train active duty airmen, as needed.
The Air Force is planning to award Northrop Grumman a contract that could allow the RQ-4 Global Hawk to keep flying into 2033. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center posted a presolicitation notice Aug. 17 saying it plans to award Northrop a sole-source contract for development, modernization, retrofit, and…