The 
Air Force wants Raytheon and Northrop Grumman to compete for a contract to upgrade the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle radar system with an active electronically scanned array, according to Flight International. Raytheon upgraded 18 of USAF’s F-15Cs with the APG-63 and recently won a contract to upgrade Navy F/A-18E/F aircraft. Currently, USAF is considering whether to add AESA radar to Air National Guard F-15Cs to aid them in homeland defense against cruise missiles. (DR, 9/19/05)
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.