The US has prepositioned combat search and rescue assets in Turkey, Iraq, and Kuwait to be able to quickly respond to potentially dangerous missions into ISIS-held territory, including keeping pararescuemen airborne for certain missions, the Air Force general in charge of the air war said. “When we are doing missions we think have a higher risk, we posture a bit more,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, commander of US Air Forces Central Command and air component commander of US Central Command. “We do move them around based on what’s going on,” he added. The 41st Rescue Squadron recently returned to Moody AFB, Ga., from Diyarbakir AB, Turkey, near the Syrian border. However, the Air Force has not announced which unit has taken its place.
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.
