With an Eye Toward the Growing Demand for ISR: Boeing plans to offer a signals intelligence version of its 737 platform, which officials say could be used for ISR and advanced network centric communications. According to a Boeing statement, it will play off the 737-based Multimission Maritime Aircraft the company already is developing for the Navy. Working with Boeing on the P-8A MMA are Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Smiths Aerospace, and CFM Intl.
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
