For the first time in 15 years, maintainers at Robins AFB, Ga., are fitting an F-15E with a new rear half. Last August, during a training exercise near Shaw AFB, S.C., this Strike Eagle’s left engine ingested a bird, which led to a major fire that severely damaged the aircraft. A team from Robins’ 402nd Maintenance Wing traveled to Shaw and partly disassembled the aircraft for shipment to Robins. The Aerospace Sustainment Directorate at Robins managed to acquire the last-available F-15E replacement aft fuselage section in the US inventory. Robins maintainers have already modified the fuselage section so that it can fit the engine type that the F-15Es operate at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., the damaged aircraft’s home station. The repair work began in January is expected to be completed in December. (Robins report by Wayne Crenshaw)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
