A C-17 bringing US troops out of Afghanistan last week was the first to use the new ramp at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Designated “Papa Ramp,” the new addition adds four parking spots for C-17s or MD-11 commercial aircraft to support the Transit Center’s role as a main hub for moving US troops and supplies in and out of Afghanistan. The United States agreed to complete the $30 million ramp project as part of a lease renewal agreement with the Kyrgyz government in 2009 for the continued use of Manas. The project took about a year to complete. (Manas photo caption by SSgt. Stacy Moless)
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.