Air Forces Central has awarded Northrop Grumman a $99 million contract for base security and support services at various installations in the command’s area of responsibility, which spans Egypt and Southwest and Central Asia. Northrop will provide various training, management, and administrative tasks—something it has done since 2005. “Our reachback ability within the corporation provides our nation’s warfighters decades of security management expertise,” said Robert Hill, Northrop’s Technical Services AFCENT program manager. “This experience allows us to anticipate the future requirements and to provide timely and mission-focused solutions.” (Northrop release)
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.