Back to news

September 18, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Air Force needs more data before making a decision on enhanced KC-46 vision system

and

WASHINGTON — Within a few weeks, the Air Force will have the data it needs to make a decision on whether to install an interim version of the KC-46′s troubled remote vision system, the head of Air Mobility Command said in a Sept. 10 interview.

In April, the Air Force and KC-46 manufacturer Boeing signed off on an agreement to replace the tanker's Remote Vision System — the series of cameras that provide imagery to the boom operator during refueling operations — with a newly designed system, called Remote Vision System 2.0.

Boeing has agreed to develop and install RVS 2.0 on its own dime, but it has also proposed installing an enhanced version of the original system, eRVS, before then. But AMC commander Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, who viewed a demonstration of the eRVS system during a Sept. 4 visit to Boeing Field in Washington state, isn't sold on the upgrade just yet.

“The most important thing is, we cannot slow down getting RVS 2.0 into the airplane. So eRVS can't slow us down if we were to accept parts of that,” she told Air Force Times.

“And then we want to make sure if we're going to put it on the airplane, that it actually gives us some tangible capabilities with respect to boom operator workload and capability with respect to opening up the envelope for actually doing operational air refueling, or it gives us a great enhancement getting ready for 2.0.”

The Air Force and Boeing began flight testing the eRVS this summer. The demonstration shown to Van Ovost, which compared the original RVS to the enhanced version, revealed “some sharpening of the picture with respect to how the boom operator saw the airplane” in day and nighttime conditions, she said.

But those improvements in image quality need to be weighed against the time it will take to retrofit the existing KC-46 planes in service with the new eRVS components.

“Do we have to ground airplanes for a while to put the put the modifications in?” Van Ovost said. “What's the worth of the modifications compared to the operational envelope it's going to open up for our boom operators?”

The Air Force is set to receive the full set of test data within the next few weeks. Once it has the answers to those questions, the service will be ready to decide whether to field eRVS.

If the Air Force decides to incorporate the enhanced system, Boeing can start making those upgrades in the second half of 2021, said Mike Hafer, Boeing's global sales and marketing lead for KC-46.

Boeing also remains on track to incorporate RVS 2.0 on KC-46s coming off the production line in late 2023 or early 2024, he said.

The Air Force intends to purchase 179 KC-46s during the program of record. The first tanker was delivered to the service in January 2019.

Boeing is locked into paying any costs associated with the KC-46 that exceed the $4.9 billion firm fixed-price ceiling on its 2011 contract with the U.S. Air Force. So far, Boeing will have spent more than $4.7 billion in company funds on the KC-46 program — almost equivalent to the Air Force's own investment in the program.

The deal on RVS 2.0 capped a yearslong dispute over the original system, which the Air Force argued did not provide enough fidelity to boom operators in certain lighting conditions, resulting in incidents of operators accidentally scraping the boom against the receiver aircraft.

Van Ovost said the main goal of the trip to Boeing Field was to better understand the progress on RVS 2.0 and whether the final design specifications agreed to in April would meet the needs of tanker operators in the field.

Van Ovost described the performance of the original RVS as something the Air Force “couldn't live with” but said she “was pretty encouraged about the collaboration of the team, and how far they've gotten with the requirements of RVS 2.0.”

“I'm encouraged that we are on a path to get a fully qualified tanker,” she added.

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/afa-air-space/2020/09/16/air-force-needs-more-data-before-making-a-decision-on-enhanced-kc-46-vision-system/

On the same subject

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 21, 2020

    December 22, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 21, 2020

    AIR FORCE Voly Defense Solutions LLC, Concord, California, has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a shared ceiling of $400,000,000 for all subsequent competitively selected delivery orders in support of the Skyborg Vanguard Program. The Skyborg prototyping, experimentation and autonomy development contract will be used to deliver missionized prototypes in support of operational experimentation and develop the first Skyborg air platform with modular hardware and software payloads that will incorporate the Skyborg autonomy core system and enable manned/unmanned teaming. The locations of performance are to be determined at the order level and are expected to be completed July 2026. These awards are being made as a result of a competitive acquisition and 18 offers were received. No funds are being obligated on the awards and funding will be provided on each individual order. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8694-21-D-1400). National Aerospace Solutions LLC, Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, has been awarded a $108,309,387 modification (P00127) to contract FA9101-15-C-0500 for test operations and sustainment. This modification provides for test operations, technology development, equipment and facility sustainment, capital improvements and some support services for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex. Work will be performed at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, and is expected to be completed June 30, 2021. The overall value of the contract is $1,323,841,609. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance; and research, development, test and evaluation funds are being used and no funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Test Center, Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, is the contracting activity. General Electric Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $20,049,879 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, requirements contract to provide contractor engineering and technical services engine support for Air National Guard and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) partners. Work will be performed in Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed Dec. 21, 2022. FMS funds will be used, with no funds being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8604-21-D-8004). Northrop Grumman, doing business as Alliant Techsystems Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $15,152,856 firm-fixed-price modification (P00061) to contract FA8106-16-C-0004 for contractor logistic support for the Iraqi Air Force's Cessna 208 and 172 fleet. Work will be performed in Balad Airbase, Iraq, and is expected to be completed June 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $235,000,000. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. ARMY ASRC Federal Data Network Technologies, Beltsville, Maryland, was awarded a $249,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to support program management activities across the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization program. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 21, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-21-D-0030). General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $15,509,730 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for contractor logistics support services for M1A1SA Abrams tanks and M88A1/A2 recovery vehicles. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Camp Taji, Iraq, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales (Iraq) funds in the amount of $15,509,730 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-21-C-0072). Amentum Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, was awarded an $11,622,300 modification (0001CG) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0028 for logistics support services. Work will be performed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 17, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $11,622,300 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. MORSE Corp Inc.,* Cambridge, Massachusetts, was awarded a $10,861,000 modification (P00002) to contract W911NF-19-C-0101 to develop novel artificial intelligence/machine learning test, evaluation and algorithmic ensembling capabilities. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Defense-wide) funds in the amount of $9,038,737 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. New South Associates Inc.,* Stone Mountain, Georgia, was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for cultural resources services. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 20, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-21-D-0017). NAVY AttainX Inc.,* Fairfax, Virginia (N39430-21-D-2305); Golden IT-JV,* Olathe, Kansas (N39430-21-D-2306); OM Group Inc.,* Piscataway, New Jersey (N39430-21-D-2307); Stellar Innovations & Solutions Inc.,* Moraine, Ohio (N39430-21-D-2308); and Yakshna Solutions Inc.,* Herndon, Virginia (N39430-21-D-2309), are awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $151,000,000 to provide full information technology (IT) lifecycle support to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command's (NAVFAC) core facilities management, construction management and installation management systems. The work to be performed is IT services and solutions through the performance of broad ranges of services across multiple functional areas, including but are not limited to, systems development lifecycle support, cybersecurity support, business systems operations and support, IT operations management and enterprise, cloud operations/migration/system development, secure infrastructure and analysis and management services. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work on this contract could be performed in the following sites, but is not limited to, Port Hueneme, California; San Diego, California; Washington, D.C.; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Norfolk, Virginia; Kansas City, Missouri; Bremerton, Washington; and Yokosuka, Japan. The term of the contract is not to exceed 66 months with an expected completion date of August 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 minimums for each contractor are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M,N; and military construction (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with 28 proposals received. NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission System, Orlando, Florida, is awarded a $101,001,289 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract procures instructor services and associated administrative support including control account managers, functional managers, program managers, security, operational planning, contract, finance and lab support to meet integrated weapons systems and Aegis training requirements for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Dahlgren, Virginia (35%); Moorestown, New Jersey (35%); Maizuru (2%), Sasebo (3%), and Yokosuka (10%), Japan; Sydney, Australia (10%); Busan (1%), Chinhae (1%), and Jeju Island (1%), South Korea; and Bergen, Norway (2%), and is expected to be completed December 2025. FMS incremental funds in the amount of $9,451,623 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-4. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340-21-C-0010). Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $48,773,600 modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00039-16-C-0050 to produce, test and deliver fully integrated Navy multiband terminals (NMT) and spare parts. NMT is a multiband capable satellite communications terminal that provides protected and wideband communications. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $557,882,121. Work will be performed at Largo, Florida (54%); South Deerfield, Massachusetts (25%); Stow, Massachusetts (13%); and Marlborough, Massachusetts (8%), with an expected completion date of May 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2021 Navy working capital funds; fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $48,773,600 will be obligated at the time of award. Operation and maintenance (Navy) funds will expire at the end of the fiscal year; all other funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This sole-source contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $29,396,312 firm-fixed-price, order (N00019-21-F-0038) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001. This order procures various parts and quantities for main and nose landing gear critical components retrofit kits in support of F/A-18A-D aircraft modification efforts. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in February 2024. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $19,675,745; and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,720,567 will be obligated at time of award, of which $9,720,567 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $27,986,162 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-6400 for systems engineering and integration on Navy submarines. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (68%); Waterford, Connecticut (10%); Groton, Connecticut (10%); Middletown, Rhode Island (7%); and Newport, Rhode Island (5%), and is expected to be completed by December 2021. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,758,838 (95%); and 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $647,350 (5%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Meggitt Defense Systems Inc., Irvine, California, is awarded a not-to-exceed $27,425,431 modification (P00002) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-19-D-0039. This modification adds scope for the procurement of additional P-8A liquid palletized systems in ordering Years Two, Three and Four, with 10 units in Year Two, 11 units in Year Three and 11 units in Year Four, in support of the Navy P-8A aircraft. Work will be performed in Irvine, California (78%); Sumner, Washington (8%); Niagara, New York (4%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (10%), and is expected to be completed in November 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award and will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Technologies, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is awarded a $26,686,060 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-6423 to exercise options for the production of the MK54 Lightweight Torpedo MOD 0 and MOD 1 common part kits and spare torpedo components. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (30%); and the governments of Belgium, Netherlands and New Zealand (70%), under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (95%); and Keyport, Washington (5%), and is expected to be completed by December 2023. Fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,122,692 (30%); and FMS funds in the amount of $18,563,368 (70%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Saab Inc., East Syracuse, New York, is awarded an $18,182,043 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-5381 to exercise options for production and engineering support of the Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) systems. Under this contract, Saab Inc. manufactures, inspects, tests and delivers MMR systems to be deployed on Navy Expeditionary Support Base ships and Coast Guard (USCG) Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and provide engineering support of delivered MMR systems. The MMR serves as the primary sensor for air surveillance, surface surveillance and gun weapon system cueing for the USCG OPC. Work will be performed in East Syracuse, New York (64%); and Gothenburg, Sweden (36%), and is expected to be completed by April 2022. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $17,789,572 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $9,624,136 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-5405 to exercise Option Year Four for design agent engineering and technical support services for the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, SeaRAM and land-based Phalanx Weapon System. This contract combines purchases for the Army (69%); and the governments of United Kingdom, Australia, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia (31%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (68%); El Segundo, California (18%); Louisville, Kentucky (5%); Camarillo, California (2%); Minneapolis, Minnesota (2%); Dallas, Texas (1%); Bohemia, New York (1%); Melbourne, Florida (1%); and various locations with less than 1% each (2%), and is expected to be completed by January 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $6,640,000 (69%); FMS (United Kingdom) funds in the amount of $724,655 (8%); FMS (Australia) funds in the amount of $200,000 (2%); FMS (Taiwan) funds in the amount of $605,000 (6%); FMS (Japan) funds in the amount of $406,996 (4%); FMS (New Zealand) funds in the amount of $299,485 (3%); and FMS (Saudi Arabia) funds in the amount of $784,000 (8%), will be obligated at time of award, of which funds in the amount of $6,640,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). This contract was not competitively procured, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Bowhead Base Operations LLC,* Springfield, Virginia, is awarded a $9,178,182 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract procures logistics support services, including processing material and service requests, identifying alternative parts and sources of supply for materials and services, validating requirements utilizing technical publications, receiving and tracking all incoming materials and services, maintaining warehouse-stocking levels, receiving and transferring parts between Fleet Readiness Center Aviation Support Equipment locations. Work will be performed in Solomons Island, Maryland (80%); Portsmouth, Virginia (10%); and New Orleans, Louisiana (10%), and is expected to be completed in December 2024. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $566,849 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-21-C-0146). DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY RKF Engineering Solutions, Washington, D.C., was awarded a competitive, single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling value of $26,599,072 in support of the Defense Spectrum Organization, Electromagnetic Spectrum Services, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects program, Strategic Planning and Applied Engineering Support - Mobile Service Provider. The place of performance will be at the Defense Information Systems Agency headquarters, Fort Meade, Maryland; and the Mission Partner Defense Spectrum Organization, Annapolis, Maryland. The period of performance for the base period is Jan. 4, 2021, to Jan. 3, 2022, with four one-year option periods. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds will be used for the contract's $500 minimum guarantee. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, National Capital Region, Fort Meade, Maryland, is the contracting activity (HC1047-21-D-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Epic Foods LLC,* Columbia, South Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $18,860,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for pouched bacon. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are South Carolina and North Carolina, with a Dec. 21, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE3S1-21-D-Z231). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Systems and Technology Research (STR), Woburn, Massachusetts, was awarded a $15,177,171 cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research project for the Joint All-Domain Warfighting Software (JAWS) program. JAWS seeks to develop a software suite to maximize the effectiveness of military force through theater scale battle management command and control with automation and predictive analytics. This capability would develop the enabling software for the warfighter to adaptably set up and execute synchronized kill webs encompassing the undersea, sea surface, land, air, space and electromagnetic domains. Work will be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts (54%); Alexandria, Virginia (15%); Dayton, Ohio (14%); Menlo Park, California (13%); Columbia, Maryland (2%); and Fairfax, Virginia (2%), with an expected completion date of March 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,420,486; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,979,425 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition in which 12 offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-21-C-0011). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2454191/source/GovDelivery/

  • Lockheed’s IRST Stealth Detection Pod Passes AF Milestones

    July 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace

    Lockheed’s IRST Stealth Detection Pod Passes AF Milestones

    "The Legion Pod uses an advanced IRST technology that gives 4th generation fighters the ability to 'see' stealth aircraft that traditional radar cannot," says an Air Combat Command spokesperson. By THERESA HITCHENSon July 16, 2020 at 3:37 PM WASHINGTON: The Air Force is a step closer to fielding the Legion Pod infra-red search and track (IRST) system on its F-15 and F-16 fleets — a passive sensor that gives pilots a long-range ability to track stealthy aircraft without giving away their own presence. The Lockheed Martin-built IRST system just passed two major testing milestones: the first shot of an AIM-9X air-to-air missile from an F-15C Eagle using the Legion Pod for targeting; and the first flight of an operational F-16 Fighting Falcon with the Legion Pod, Air Combat Command announced Tuesday in a press release. “This is exceptionally important, as the Legion Pod uses an advanced IRST technology that gives 4th generation fighters the ability to ‘see' stealth aircraft that traditional radar cannot,” an Air Combat Command spokesperson says in an email. Because it uses infrared to track an airplane's heat signature, the system isn't affected by radar jamming. Further, IRST systems are passive, meaning the Legion Pod can act without emitting any radiation of its own that might allow an enemy to recognize they are being targeted. The Air Force is driving toward initial operational capability (IOC) for the Legion Pod by the end of the year, under a rapid testing program managed by the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force (OFP CTF). The unit is unique in that it reports both to Air Combat Command and Air Materiel Command, and is empowered to do developmental and operational testing at the same time — unlike traditional sequential testing programs. “The OFP CTF's work on the Legion Pod is done differently than the traditional acquisitions method,” Lt. Col. Thomas Moser, the unit's commander, says in the press release. “We actually started testing the pod in a Pre-Developmental Test (DT) phase in early 2019 and got it to an eighty percent solution before it ever entered the official developmental phase. This ultimately allowed us to go through the developmental and operational testing quicker. What would normally take several years has been reduced to eighteen months from the start of DT to expected fielding.” The Air Force selected the Legion Pod to equip the F-15C fleet in 2017; and Lockheed Martin received a contract for the system from prime contractor Boeing in 2018 for development and low-rate initial production of 19 pods. “Currently, we are under contract for 38 LRIP systems,” Lockheed Martin spokesperson Dana Edwards Szigeti tells Breaking D in an email. “The next generation Block II systems are also under development with the U.S. Navy and we look to transition that to Legion Pod for the U.S. AF and Air National Guard over the next few years. Block II significantly increases system performance.” The new F-15EX jets also will be compatible with the pod, according to Boeing's program manager Prat Kumar — although there isn't a formal contract yet. The system is based on Lockheed Martin's IRST21 sensor, also being used by the Navy in its Block III F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet. In addition, Lockheed in May received an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract, worth up to $485 million, that will allow the US military services and allies to buy the IRT21 sensor, as well as other sensor products such as the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod and the LANTIRN Extended Range pod, for five years at pre-set price points. That contract vehicle will allow the Air Force to equip the F-16 fleet with the Legion Pod, Edwards Szigeti said. https://breakingdefense.com/2020/07/lockheeds-irst-stealth-detection-pod-passes-af-milestones/

  • Rheinmetall Electronics UK’s Contract Award to Supply Trailblazer Camera System to UK Warrior IFVs.

    November 22, 2023 | International, Security

    Rheinmetall Electronics UK’s Contract Award to Supply Trailblazer Camera System to UK Warrior IFVs.

    The Trailblazer cameras will be used as a Rear Safety Camera System for the Warrior vehicle, providing a key safety feature for the driver to recognise terrain and personnel at the...

All news