The US Air Force is settling in to its temporary home at Manas AB, Kyrgyzistan, and the proof is in the continued enhancements USAF is making to the facility. Recently, in-house and contract construction projects have delivered four new fuel bladders, security grates for storm culverts, relocating guard towers to the outer perimeter fence, force protection fencing projects, and a new base support facility, among other projects. Civil engineers with Air and Space Expeditionary Force 7/8 have overseen eight contract projects and are working another 31.
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.