Airmen 
of the 30th Space Wing and their industry partners on Thursday successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket into space from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. This was the first-ever West Coast launch of the Delta IV Heavy. The 235-foot-tall launch vehicle, the largest ever fired from the US West Coast, carried a classified US intelligence satellite aloft. “I’m very proud to be part of the team who worked so hard to make this mission a success,” said Col. Keith Balts, 30th SW vice commander and launch decision authority. The rocket produced two million pounds of thrust. (Vandenberg release) (See also Vandenberg Preps for Delta IV Heavy Launch)
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.
