Boeing has won two contracts for its Wichita-based development and modification center, valued at a combined $126 million. One contract is for $81 million of work on the presidential fleet of two modified Boeing 747-200Bs—designated VC-25As by the Air Force and given the call sign “Air Force One” when transporting the President. The other work is for a $45 million remanufacturing effort on the engine struts of KC-135E tankers. The contract stipulates that 72 engine struts are required by March 2008.
In the face of Chinese war plans to disrupt U.S. command-and-control networks in the event of a conflict, the Air Force needs to focus less on its “connect everything” efforts and prepare its combat aviators to fight without a constant connection to higher-ups, according to a new report from AFA’s…