Although the Pentagon did not propose closing Eielson AFB, Alaska, it does want to remove the active units, thereby saving some $229 million a year. Whoa, says Alaskan officials, including the state’s Adjutant General. In a letter to BRAC commissioners, Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell cites a recent Air Force study saying the estimated residual active force of 400 personnel would be way short of need. Campbell believes the Pentagon may short change the base, leaving the 168th Air Refueling Wing in the cold.
The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.