28 janvier 2019 | International, Aérospatial

If the money is there, new and improved F-15s could be coming soon to the Air Force

By:

IN THE AIR OVER KENTUCKY — The U.S. Air Force could buy a new version of the F-15, known as the F-15X, as long as there is enough money in future defense budgets, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told Defense News Saturday.

And regardless of whether the service does buy the new jets this year, Goldfein said the new aircraft won't be taking money from the Lockheed Martin F-35.

“I'm not backing an inch off of the F-35” Goldfein said. “The F-35 buy that we're on continues to remain on track. And I'm not interested in taking a nickel out of it when it comes to buying anything else in the fighter portfolio.”

The FY2020 defense budget has been the focus of speculation for months, and the Pentagon has still not released a final topline figure.

Original planning had called for a $733 billion topline, which dwindled down to $700 billion after calls from President Donald Trump to slash federal spending and then ballooned up to $750 billion after the intervention of then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

In December 2018, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told Defense News that “all options are on the table," and on Saturday Goldfein acknowledged that the service had built multiple budgets as different figures were proposed.

“We built the [$]730[billion] budget, and we went in and did a drill said what if we only get [$]700[billion] and what do we subtract, and what if there was a [$]750[billion] budget?” he said.

Goldfein would not directly confirm that the Air Force has the money in the budget for the new planes. But he hinted strongly that the service would pull the trigger on acquiring them.

The F-15X is an improved model from Boeing, teaming a new airframe with an improved radar, cockpit, electronic warfare suite and the ability to carry more missiles, bringing in upgrades that have been developed for the F-15s sold to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Late last year, Bloomberg reported that the Air Force was planning to request $1.2 billion for 12 of the fourth-generation jets in the 2020 budget request. The report said the aircraft would go to the Air National Guard to replace the olders F-15Cs, which date to the 1980s.

And that age is why the Air Force is looking at a new variant. The service currently has about 230 F-15C and D model aircraft in service. However, Goldfein acknowledged those aircraft don't have the lifespan to make it to 2030 like other current fourth-generation aircraft, such as the F-15E, the F-16 and A-10.

“It [has] performed brilliantly, but the cost growth runs to a point to where you're spending too much money," Goldfein said.

The Air Force's decision to buy new F-15s came as a surprise late last year, as Air Force leadership had previously pushed back on the Boeing sales pitch. As recently as September 2018, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said that the Air Force needed to prioritize buying fifth-generation aircraft.

"We are currently 80 percent fourth-gen aircraft and 20 percent fifth-generation aircraft,” she said at the time. "In any of the fights that we have been asked to plan for, more fifth-gen aircraft make a huge difference, and we think that getting to 50-50 means not buying new fourth-gen aircraft, it means continuing to increase the fifth generation.”

But, Goldfein said Saturday that the decision to possibly refresh the F-15 fleet comes down to the need for more fighters in service, regardless of generation.

“They complement each other,” he said. “They each make each other better.”

When asked if that meant compromising for quantity over quality, he said that would not be the case.

“We've got to refresh the F-15C fleet because I can't afford to not have that capacity to do the job and the missions.” Goldfein explained. “That's what this is all about. If we're refreshing the F-15C fleet, as we're building up the F-35 fleet, this is not about any kind of a trade.”

He added that Air Force needs to buy 72 fighters a year to get to the amount they need in the future — and to drive average aircraft age down from 28 years to 15 years. And while Goldfein might want all 72 to be fifth generation F-35s, budgetary concerns likely won't let that happen.

“If we had the money, those would be 72 F-35s. But we've gotta look at this from a cost/business case.” he explained. “An F-15 will never be an F-35. Never. But I need capacity.”

https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/2019/01/26/if-the-money-is-there-new-and-improved-f-15s-could-be-coming-soon-to-the-air-force

Sur le même sujet

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 27, 2019

    2 juillet 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 27, 2019

    ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $106,108,230 firm-fixed-price domestic and foreign military sales (Netherlands and United Kingdom) contract for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor systems, subcomponent production and technical services for the Apache Attack Helicopter. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-17-D-0043). SRCTec LLC, Syracuse, New York, was awarded a $91,400,000 modification (P00013) to contract W15P7T-13-D-C702 for lightweight counter mortar radar systems, vehicle mounts, spare parts, retrofit kits and support services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 16, 2021. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $47,684,233 modification (P00029) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for Version 6/Improved Drive System-enhancement cut-in on the Apache Attack Helicopter (AH)-64E production line and for the Apache Longbow Crew Trainers. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2010, 2018 and 2019 foreign military sales, and aircraft procurement, Army funds in the combined amount of $23,365,274 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., was awarded a $21,954,252 modification (P00007) to contract W58RGZ-19-C-0027 for procurement of performance based logistics support services for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System. Work will be performed in Poway, California, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $9,733,334 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Morrish-Wallace Construction Co.,* Cheboygan, Michigan, was awarded an $18,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for complete repairs on the Buffalo North Breakwater. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 26, 2022. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, New York, is the contracting activity (W912P4-19-D-0002). Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington, was awarded a $14,079,784 firm-fixed-price contract for consulting services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of June 27, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $5,866,577 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91RUS-19-F-0235). Ross Island Sand & Gravel Co., Portland, Oregon, was awarded an $8,745,321 firm-fixed-price contract for annual maintenance dredging of the Sacramento and Stockton Deep Water Ship Channels. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Sacramento and Stockton, California, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 15, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, civil funds in the amount of $8,745,321 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California, is the contracting activity (W912P7-19-C-0011). AIR FORCE CACI Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded a $45,992,341 firm-fixed-price task order (FA7014-19-F-A106) to the previously awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (47QTCK-18-D-0009) for the Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management Financial Information Systems Maintenance Support Services. This task order provides the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management Budget Operations and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army Financial Management & Comptroller IT maintenance and support services for their existing financial information systems: the automated schedule and reporting system; the exhibit automation system; the planning, programming, budget and execution portal and the data analysis reporting tool. These services are performance-based, and they provide maintenance via web portals and access via the internet. The tools assist the government by providing a myriad of analytical reports that allow budget analysts to identify program trends and discrepancies for improved program justification of program changes. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be complete by June 21, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,236,756 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Dell Federal Systems LP., Round Rock, Texas, has been awarded a $35,800,000 firm-fixed-price contract for mobile interceptor platform and deployable interceptor platform. The contract provides for hardware refresh which cyber protection teams use to defend mission partner enclaves and platform information technology from cyber threats. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 28, 2019. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers received. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $20,464,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8732-14-D-0002/FA8307-19-F-0095). Dataminr Inc., New York, New York, has been awarded a $35,766,667 firm-fixed-price modification (P0001) to previously awarded contract FA7014-19-C-A011 for First Alert proprietary alerting system. Worked will be performed in New York, New York, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 11, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $24,923,077 are being obligated at the time of the award. Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Exbon Development, Garden Grove, California (FA486117-17-D-A100); DSB-RLR JV, American Folk, Utah (FA4861-17-D-A101); North Star Construction, Yuba City, California (FA486117-17-D-A102); North Wind Construction, Las Vegas, Nevada (FA4861-17-D-A103); Kautaq-Northcon Team Tempe, Arizona (FA486117-17-D-A104); Sierra Range Construction of Visalia, California (FA4861-17-D-A105); West Point Contractors Inc., Tucson, Arizona (FA486117-17-D-A107), have been awarded a $30,000,000 ceiling increase modification (P00003) to previously awarded multiple award contract FA4861-17-D-A10X for a broad range of maintenance, repair and minor construction work on real property. This modification will increase the contract value from $40,000,000 to $70,000,000. Work will be performed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, and is expected to be completed by May 2022. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The 99th Contracting Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Fullerton, California, has been awarded a $26,600,000, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm‐fixed-price, cost-plus fixed fee, cost‐reimbursable contract for the Situation Awareness Data Link program. This contract provides software maintenance and engineering services support services. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 21, 2024. This award is the result of a sole‐source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,012,233 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contract activity (FA8574‐19‐D‐0001). Universal Technology Corp., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded an $11,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for nondestructive evaluation exploratory development and inspection support for Air Force systems. This contract provides for quick reaction response support for failure analysis and materials and processes issues relating to nondestructive inspection in support of the systems support division of the Air Force Research Laboratory's materials and manufacturing directorate. Work will be performed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Dayton, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sep. 28, 2024. This contract was a competitive source acquisition, with one offer received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $200,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-D-5625). Barnett Paving & Sealing LLC,* Wichita Falls, Texas, has been awarded a $10,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task order contract for airfield pavements. This contract provides for the repair and sustainment of the airfield pavements along with restriping and rubber removal. Work will be performed at Little Rock Air Force Base, and is expected to be completed by June 2024. This award is the result of a competitive, hub zone small business acquisition and two offers were received. No funds are being obligated at the time of award, however, fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $164,659 will be obligated on the first task order immediately after award. The 19th Contracting Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, is the contracting activity (FA4460-19-D-A003). Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $7,085,068 cost reimbursement contract modification (P00153) to previously awarded contract (FA8810-08-C-0002) for Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) Operational Migration to Enterprise Ground Services (EGS) Step 1 development and test campaign support. The contract modification is for Lockheed Martin system engineering integration test support for our HOME RS test campaign, as well as anomaly response matrix validation, flight software validation, synchronized pre-deployment and operational tracker support, and a few minor HOME development efforts. Work will be performed at Aurora, Colorado; Azusa, California; Boulder, Colorado; and Sunnyvale, California, and is expected to be completed by March 6, 2020. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $7,085,068 are being obligated at the time of award. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California is the contracting activity. NAVY Diversified Maintenance Systems Inc.,* Sandy, Utah, is awarded a maximum amount $40,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for other specialty trade contractors construction alterations, renovations and repair projects at Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Naval Air Station Lemoore. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs and construction of electrical; mechanical; painting; engineering/design; paving (asphaltic and concrete); flooring (tile work/carpeting); roofing; structural repair; fencing; heating, ventilation and air conditioning and fire suppression/protection system installation projects. Work will be performed in Monterey, California (33%), China Lake, California (34%), and Lemoore, California (33%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of June 2024. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy) funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2629). Advanced Crane Technologies LLC,* Reading, Pennsylvania (N62470-19-D-1006); Crane Technologies Group Inc.,* Rochester Hills, Michigan (N62470-19-D-1007); HECO-Pacific Manufacturing Inc.,* Union City, California (N62470-19-D-1008); Mid-Atlantic Crane,* Raleigh, North Carolina (N62470-19-D-1009); Piedmont Hoist and Crane Inc.,* Colfax, North Carolina (N62470-19-D-1010); and Sievert Crane and Hoist,* Forest Park, Illinois (N62470-19-D-1011) are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for ordering new, and overhauling existing, weight handling equipment located primarily within Navy, Marine Corps and other federal activities worldwide. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years for all six contracts combined is $30,000,000. Piedmont Hoist and Crane Inc. is being awarded the initial delivery order at $241,700 for the design, fabrication, assembly, testing, delivery, installation and inspection of one two-ton, under-running, underhung, single girder electric traveling crane and one half-ton monorail trolley and hoist to be installed in Building 124 at Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, in Lakehurst, New Jersey. Work for this delivery order is expected to be completed by December 2020. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of June 2024. Fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $241,700 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future delivery orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy), operation and maintenance (Navy) and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with six proposals received. These six contractors may compete for delivery orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. McNally Industries LLC, Grantsburg, Wisconsin, is awarded a maximum value $21,246,166 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00174-19-F-0373 under previously-awarded basic ordering agreement N00024-17-G-5385 to overhaul Mk 6 Mod 19 ammunition hoist assemblies. This basic ordering agreement is to provide materials and services required to receive, inventory, stage, disassemble, inspect, convert, repair, overhaul, upgrade, manufacture, procure, assemble, test, preserve, package and ship Mk 6 Mod 19 ammunition hoist assemblies. Work will be performed in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by May 2022. Fiscal 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,843,136 will be obligated at time of award, and $980,392 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. POWER Engineers Inc., Hailey, Idaho, is awarded an $18,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62742-16-D-0002) for architect-engineering services for various electrical engineering projects and related services at various locations in all areas under the cognizance of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $38,000,000. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Pacific area of operations including, but not limited to Guam (70%), Hawaii (25%) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (5%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of November 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (planning and design). Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded $16,132,820 for job order 0012 under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00164-17-G-JQ02 for seven Multi-spectral Targeting Systems “B” AN/DAS-3. The Multi-spectral Targeting Systems “B” AN/DAS-3 are in support of the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP 3 and 4) efforts of the MQ-4C Triton Program. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be complete by July 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $16,132,820 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity. Didlake Inc., Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $10,384,079 modification under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N40085-15-D-0083) to exercise option four for annual custodial services at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story. The work to be performed provides for annual custodial services, including, but not limited to, all management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor and transportation services necessary to perform custodial services for office space, restrooms and other types of rooms at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $53,428,936. Work will be performed at various installations in Virginia Beach, Virginia (77%) and Portsmouth, Virginia (23%), and work is expected to be completed June 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,250,107 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded $7,823,461 for modification 11 to a firm-fixed-price delivery order 5306 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0004). This modification procures 36 Nacelles Production Kits in support of the H-53 aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,823,461 will be obligated at time of award, $1,738,547 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY World Fuel Services Inc., Miami, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $9,289,995 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 148 responses received. This is a 45-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is Florida, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE607-19-D-0092). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1890122/source/GovDelivery/

  • Space Force lays out acquisitions reforms in new report

    25 mai 2020 | International, Aérospatial

    Space Force lays out acquisitions reforms in new report

    Nathan Strout In a new proposal, the U.S. Space Force is asking Congress to overhaul the tools it uses to acquire new space systems, allowing the new service to move with more agility and keep pace with near-peer adversaries. “Our nation requires a bold Alternative Space Acquisition System that not only matches the pace of change but also manages unpredictability and regularly disrupts our adversaries' threat cadence," the Department of the U.S. Air Force report concludes. “The features outlined in this report will create a new space acquisition approach for the USSF that is the envy of all other services and ultimately enables the USSF to rapidly leverage industry innovation to outpace space threats.” When Congress passed legislation establishing the Space Force as the nation's sixth branch of the armed services in December, it included a provision requiring the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report by the end of March on whether the military should adopt an alternative space acquisition system. While the Pentagon did deliver a report to Congress in March, it largely kicked the can down the road on any specific acquisitions reforms. Space Force leadership have touted this more detailed acquisitions report as “groundbreaking” in recent appearances. The new report, which was first reported by Bloomberg Government, includes nine specific proposals to improve Space Force contracting, although it doesn't make any suggestions towards unifying the various organizations involved in purchasing space platforms and systems, such as the Space Development Agency, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, the Space and Missile Systems Center, or the National Reconnaissance Office, which purchases satellites for the intelligence community. Instead, the report's recommendations include changes to the contracting tools and reporting requirements the Space Force will use to acquire new systems, with a focus on increasing flexibility and delegating authority. Three of the suggestions require legislative action, while the remaining proposals will simply require internal Department of Defense adjustments. Perhaps the most important recommendation in the report, according to the Air Force, is the consolidation of budget line items along mission portfolios, such as missile warning or communications, instead of by platform. While this has been done on a limited basis in the past for the Space Rapid Capabilities Office and some classified efforts, it marks a change from standard DoD budgeting practices. Theoretically, this would allow the Space Force to move funding between missile warning systems without having to submit reprogramming requests to Congress, something it did several times last year in order to move up the delivery date for the first Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite. The Air Force's repeated reprogramming requests rankled some members of Congress, leading to a fight between lawmakers and the White House over the program's funding for fiscal 2020. The Air Force claims this fix is needed to give program managers the flexibility to adapt to growing threats. According to the report, transparency at the program level would be preserved in future budget documents. This change would not require legislation. Beyond that, the Air Force is asking Congress for permission to push milestone decision authority down the chain of command, similar to what's been demonstrated by the Missile Defense Agency and National Reconnaissance Office. This change would speed up decision making for space programs. The third major change the Air Force is pursuing is authority for the Space Force to use incremental funding for space systems and programs. This “Efficient Space Procurement” coding was used to acquire the fifth and sixth satellites in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites at the same time as well as the fifth and sixth Space-Based Infrared System satellites, resulting in significant savings. The department claims full funding each space vehicle has lead to affordability issues in the past, and can “lead to production breaks, obsolescence, and industrial base impacts.” Instead, the department wants to spread out funding for satellites over multiple years to help keep costs in check and avoid funding spikes. Other changes include streamlining requirements validation and reporting requirements. “Under these reforms, our Nation's newest military service will have unprecedented agility to build resilient, defendable, and affordable space capabilities through streamlined processes and closer partnerships with one of America's decisive advantages—its innovative and rapidly changing commercial space industry,” Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett wrote in the introduction to the report. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/05/21/space-force-lays-out-acquisitions-reforms-in-new-report/

  • Boeing Gets Contract to Upgrade Navy's Blue Angels to Super Hornets

    22 août 2018 | International, Aérospatial

    Boeing Gets Contract to Upgrade Navy's Blue Angels to Super Hornets

    By Oriana Pawlyk The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are poised to receive new, retrofitted F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft in the next few years. The Navy on Monday awarded Boeing Co., the F/A-18's manufacturer, a $17 million firm-fixed price contract to configure nine F/A-18E and two F/A-18F aircraft to the standard Blue Angels' aircraft structure. The squadron, which typically maintains 11 aircraft, currently flies the F/A-18C/D models. While an upgrade, the new aircraft would not house the common nose cannon system used for strike operations. Like the Air Force Thunderbirds, the demonstration team uses "clean jets," aircraft without missiles or bombs. However, the Blue Angels' F/A-18s are "capable of being returned to combat duty aboard an aircraft carrier within 72 hours," if necessary, according to the team's fact sheet. Full article: https://www.military.com/dodbuzz/2018/08/15/boeing-gets-contract-upgrade-navys-blue-angels-super-hornets.html

Toutes les nouvelles