Work has commenced on the new headquarters building for the 502nd Air Base Wing at Fort Sam Houston, Tex. The 25,733-square-foot building will have a 5.5-acre footprint on the Army base, which is now part of JB San Antonio, along with Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases. The 502nd ABW is charged with overseeing installation support for those three facilities under the new joint basing scheme. The ground-breaking ceremony for the $7.4 million construction project was held July 14. Wing officials are expected to take up residence in the new energy-efficient and environmentally friendly headquarters building in July 2011. JB San Antonio is the Defense Department’s largest single installation. (San Antonio report by Steve Elliott)
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.