The Air Armament Center at Eglin AFB, Fla., has issued a sources sought for the next six production lots (#12 through #17) of Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The service needs to replace JDAMs used in training, test, and operations and expects to buy some 28,000 tail kits to convert 500, 1,000, and 2,000-pound dumb bombs into precision weapons. The center plans to award a contract in October 2007 and have first delivery by March 2009.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.