Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen joined Air National Guard officials at a groundbreaking in Memphis for a new $215 million Air National Guard base. According to Associated Press news service, the plan is to move the 164th Airlift Wing from its present location and increase the size of its base to provide for four additional C-5 airlifters. The unit currently had four C-5s assigned, when the new facility is complete next year, it will be able to accommodate eight.
The Pentagon is considering ditching the Air Force’s plan to buy the E-7 Wedgetail as it looks to outsource the airborne target-tracking mission to space, defense officials indicated this week.