Air Force cargo aircraft last month set another record in Afghanistan, by air dropping more than 4.1 million pounds of supplies to troops at forward operating bases, combat outposts, and other austere locations across that rugged nation. This total eclipsed the previous record of 3.8 million pounds for a single month that was set in August of this year. It also marked the fourth consecutive month of increase, according to Air Forces Central. “The increase in airdropped supplies reflects the Air Force’s ability to adapt to support shifting conditions on the ground and provide direct support to the forces actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan,” said Col. Keith Boone, director of the air mobility division in the combined air and space operations center that runs the air campaigns in Afghanistan and elsewhere in Southwest Asia. (AFCENT report by Capt Frank Hartnett)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.