The 1970s-era Maverick air-to-ground missile has been in-demand in Southwest Asia to support Air Force close air support operations. So much so, that service officials recently asked whether Maverick-maker Raytheon could restart the line. Company officials at AFA’s Air & Space Conference this week said that the Tucson, Ariz. production line could be up and running again “in a matter of months.” John Nelson, the company’s missile systems spokesman, said senior Air Force leadership is going over the final arrangements and an official agreement is expected very soon. The plan is to keep most of the missile’s components as is, but update the infrared seeker on the warhead with newer technology, Nelson said.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
