To afford next-gen combat aircraft, the US Air Force will make cuts to ISR inventory

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  January 11, 2021 | International, Aerospace

  CAE USA wins competitive recompete of U.S. Air Force KC-135 Training System contract

  CAE announced that the United States Air Force (USAF) awarded CAE USA a contract to continue providing comprehensive KC-135 training services. The eight-year contract, awarded as a one-year base contract with seven additional one-year option periods, is valued at a total of more than US$275 million. CAE USA became the prime contractor on the USAF KC-135 Training System program in 2010 and has now won the competitive recompete to continue delivering classroom and simulator training for KC-135 pilots and boom operators. CAE USA will also continue to provide updates and upgrades to KC-135 training devices, including KC-135 operational flight trainers and boom operator trainers. In addition, the KC-135 Training System contract now includes training support for the Air National Guard's Boom Operator Simulator System (BOSS). In total, CAE USA will support the training of more than 4,500 KC-135 crewmembers annually. “CAE USA did an outstanding job supporting the U.S. Air Force on the KC-135 training program over the past decade, and we are extremely pleased to win the recompete competition and remain the KC-135 training partner,” said Ray Duquette, President and General Manager, CAE USA. CAE USA will be supported on the KC-135 Training System program by a team of industry partners, including Delaware Resource Group (DRG), Cardinal Point, FAAC, and CymSTAR. “The KC-135 Stratotanker plays a vital role in the U.S. Air Force's ability to deliver global reach, and we are honored to contribute to the training and readiness of the KC-135 aircrews who fly these essential tanker missions,” said Dan Gelston, Group President, Defense & Security, CAE. KC-135 Training System Site Background CAE USA will deliver KC-135 aircrew training to USAF active-duty, Air National Guard and reserve crewmembers at 12 sites in the United States and internationally: Altus Air Force Base (AFB) in Oklahoma, which is the site of the formal training unit; Fairchild AFB, Washington; March Air Reserve Base (ARB), California; Scott AFB, Illinois; Grissom ARB, Indiana; MacDill AFB, Florida; General Mitchell Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Wisconsin; Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio; Pittsburgh ANGB, Pennsylvania; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Kadena Air Base, Japan; Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, United Kingdom. In addition, the new KC-135 Training System contract includes training support for the Air National Guard KC-135 BOSS, which will be delivered at an additional 12 sites in the United States: Sioux City ANGB, Iowa; Lincoln ANGB, Nebraska; Forbes Field, Kansas; Phoenix ANGB, Arizona; Ronald Wright ANGB, Utah; Eielson AFB, Alaska; Bangor ANGB, Maine; McGuire AFB, New Jersey; Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Alabama; Selfridge ANGB, Michigan; McGee Tyson ANGB, Tennessee; Key Field, Mississippi. KC-135 BOSS training support will also be provided at Joint Base Pearl Harbor; Pittsburgh ANGB; General Mitchell ANGB; and Rickenbacker ANGB. https://skiesmag.com/press-releases/cae-usa-wins-competitive-recompete-of-u-s-air-force-kc-135-training-system-contract/

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  July 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Northrop Grumman Receives $104 Million Contract for UH-1Y, AH-1Z and UH-60V Aircraft Mission Computers

  WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – July 1, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has received a $104 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) award for the technical refresh of UH-1Y, AH-1Z and UH-60V mission computers. The IDIQ contract covers delivery of production units, retrofit units and spare units for the Marine Corps, Defense Logistics Agency and the government of Bahrain under the Foreign Military Sales Act. This contract brings together multiple mission computer customers, driving greater value, cost efficiency and a reduced logistics footprint. Under the IDIQ, the Navy may issue task or delivery order awards up to the ceiling amount specified in the contract. Work under the contract is set to conclude in 2023. “Northrop Grumman's mission computer delivers mission critical capability to the warfighter,” said James Conroy, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman. “The system provides improved situational understanding in the rapidly changing threat environment.” The mission computer integrates advanced mission, weapons and video processing capabilities into a high-performance airborne computer capable of driving independent, multi-function displays. Its trusted, open architecture provides centralized display and control of all integrated avionics system functions. The mission computer brings improved capability, commonality, reliability and maintainability to the warfighter. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-receives-104-million-contract-for-uh-1y-ah-1z-and-uh-60v-aircraft-mission-computers

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  February 10, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval

  Bell-Boeing Delivers First CMV-22B to Navy for COD Mission

  By: Sam LaGrone The first of a new generation of carrier onboard delivery aircraft delivered to the Navy, the service announced on Friday. Manufacturer Bell-Boeing turned over a CMV-22B Osprey to the Navy in a ceremony at its Texas assembly facility after four years of design and production. “There is nothing more important than delivering capabilities to the fleet with speed,” James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said in a statement. “I am proud how the program and industry team have leveraged non-traditional approaches such as using existing MV-22 testing data to shrink the time in the CMV-22 acquisition cycle.” The delivered aircraft is now assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21. “The first operational squadron, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, is scheduled to receive the aircraft this summer,” the Navy said. The first flight of the aircraft was in December, reported USNI News at the time. The delivery comes ahead of an aggressive testing and fielding schedule for the new COD that is anticipated to deploy next year in parallel with the first deployed squadron of F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). Vinson is currently in a drydock availability undergoing upgrades to field the F-35Cs. The CMV-22B will be key to the deployment as the new COD will be able to carry the engine power module for the F-35s, a key logistics requirement for any JSF deployment. The new Ospreys are based on the Marines existing MV-22B with key differences. “The CMV-22B will be capable of transporting up to 6,000 pounds of cargo and/or personnel over a 1,150 nautical mile range. This expanded range is due to the addition of two new 60-gallon tanks installed in the wing for an additional 120 gallons of fuel and the forward sponson tanks were redesigned for additional capacity,” read a statement from the Navy. “The CMV-22B variant has a beyond-line-of-sight high-frequency radio, a public address system for passengers, and an improved lighting system for cargo loading.” The tilt-rotor will replace the 1960s era C-2A Greyhounds used for the COD mission. The Navy is getting 39 Ospreys as part of a $4.2-billion contract modification with Bell-Boeing the Pentagon announced in July 2018. https://news.usni.org/2020/02/08/bell-boeing-delivers-first-cmv-22b-to-navy-for-cod-mission