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.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.