The Pentagon acquisition chief, Ken Krieg, has given the Air Force permission to proceed with the restructured Space-Based Infrared System satellite program, reports Rebecca Christie of Dow Jones Newswires (report via CNNMoney.com). The program had been in technological and financial jeopardy, prompting the Air Force to begin work on an Alternative Infrared Satellite System. Krieg says AIRSS research should continue.
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.