The Air Force awarded Rockwell Collins an $83 million contract to modify, integrate, and support the Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System, according to a release. Under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, Rockwell Collins will design, develop, and test system and block upgrades of the instrumentation, which is used to collect data and evaluate systems at test ranges. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed by April 18, 2021. Rockwell won the rights to upgrade the instrumentation used at the Air Force, Army, and Navy test ranges in August 2010. (See also Ranges and Readiness from the April 2016 issue of Air Force Magazine.)
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.