Pentagon leaders have sent Congress a message: Finish the 2006 defense spending bill before Thanksgiving recess or face dire consequences. A Pentagon memo to Capitol Hill predicts the greatest negative impact on the Air Force and the Marine Corps if lawmakers fail to pass the measure in time and opt, instead, for another stopgap resolution, reports the National Journal. At least appropriators are in conference. The 2006 authorization bill is still hung up in the Senate, as Senators work their way through a host of amendments.
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.
