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.
Northrop Grumman hopes its efforts to make more B-21 Raiders faster will encourage the Air Force to expand the final fleet size of the advanced stealth bomber.