Category Archives: Air Force

News related to the United States Air Force

Air Force, Boeing, Contractors & Vendors, Defense Department, EADS, Northrop Grumman

AF tankers will be picked by ‘entire’ DOD

Remember the KC-X competition? That Air Force program to buy a new tanker that the Air Force just couldn’t get right, over and over?

Well, ASecDef for AT&L Dr. Ashton Carter has now said that the ‘entire department’ will take a role in picking the winner of the KC-X contract, to replace the aging KC-135 (many of which are older than this correspondent, who is halfway to 90).

The competition is, allegedly, to be re-launched this fall, with the same two contenders, Boeing and the team of Northrop Grumman and EADS  competing for what will likely amount to a $35 billion contract to build 179 planes.  Odds are that the DOD will play Solomon with this contract at this point, and split the baby in half between the two in an attempt to avoid any further delays.

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Air Force, Contractors & Vendors, Defense Department

Boeing baffled by C-130 modernization program holdup

(UPDATE: The Air Force is reportedly considering C-130 AMP for cancellation. )

Jane’s reports that Boeing is chomping at the bit to move forward with Milestone C for its  C-130 Avionics Modernization Program. The Air Force cancelled the scheduled Defense Aquisition Board meeting on July 3o a few days in advance, and has not yet rescheduled.

Mark Angelo, program manager for C-130 AMP, told Jane’s that he and Boeing “have been given no idea as to … why it was postponed. With development complete, the risk is behind us, and the aircraft upgrade is ready.”

The C-130 AMP program is intended to “modernize, standardize, and reduce total ownership cost for the US Air Force C-130 fleet,” according to Boeing.  Its features include a “glass cockpit”, with the majority of instrumentation replaced by digital displays. Milestone C is the acquisition process decision point that approves the production and deployment of a system.

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