The Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.4 billion contract for F-117 Nighthawk weapon system sustainment. According to the contract, individual delivery orders may also be issued for aircraft modification, change proposal activities, supplemental sustainment support, tailored depot work packages, and aircraft disposition. The work could extend to September 2012. The Air Force has been pressing to retire the F-117 fleet by 2008 and has mollified New Mexico lawmakers by announcing plans to station F-22s at Holloman AFB, N.M., the home of the Nighthawks. The service just deactivated the F-117 test team.
Boeing’s receipt of the 10th lot contract award for the KC-46 Pegasus this week leaves just three lots left to complete the Air Force’s buy of the tanker, although a further buy of 75 additional aircraft as a “bridge” to the Next-Generation Aerial-refueling System (NGAS) seems increasingly likely.