The Air Force has awarded $25 million to Science Applications International Corp. to develop a “qualification model payload” for the risk reduction phase of the fledgling Alternate Infrared Satellite System, the proposed cousin to the Space-Based Infrared System, according to an SAIC news release. Last month, USAF inked a $54 million contract with Raytheon to continue work on SBIRS and develop performance data for AIRSS. The Air Force believes technology advances will enable the SBIRS follow-on (or replacement) to advance much more quickly and with less technology risk and reduced cost.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.