The Air Force awarded Boeing a $2.8 billion contract modification for the first two low rate initial production lots of the KC-46, totaling 19 aircraft with spare parts, the Pentagon announced Thursday evening. The pre-negotiated deal calls for seven Lot 1 aircraft with two spare engines, and five wing refueling pod kits. Lot 2 includes 12 aircraft, two spare engines, and five wing refueling pod kits. Work is expected to be completed by Aug. 24, 2018. McConnell AFB, Kan., and Altus AFB, Okla., will be the first bases to receive aircraft. Altus will house the only KC-46 Formal Training Unit. Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall approved the KC-46 for initial production Aug. 12 after the program completed its final Milestone C-required flight test in July with the successful refueling of an A-10 following months of delay.
Roughly two of every five fighters in the Air Force fleet could be F-35As by 2035, according to a new fighter force structure report the service submitted to Congress on Oct. 16. Lt. Gen. David Tabor, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, revealed the new estimate during an…