The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the Air Force has raised the number of tanker aircraft it expects to buy initially as replacements for its elderly KC-135s from 100 to 189. The newspaper’s source is Ralph Crosby, chairman and chief executive of EADS North America, who said the number 189 surfaced about a week ago when Air Force officials briefed the Northrop-EADS team, which is offering the KC-30, on the program.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
