The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Tinker AFB, Okla., awarded Boeing Aerospace Operations a $52.8 million modification to a previously awarded contract for the avionics modernization program phase II for the VC-25A aircraft, commonly referred to as Air Force One. The modification contract covers the engineering services to manufacturer or procure, install, and test one prototype, according to a March 4 Pentagon announcement. Work is slated for completion by May 2018 and will be performed at Boeing’s Oklahoma City, Okla., facility. The Air Force has obligated $10.3 million of research, development, test, and evaluation funds for the program in Fiscal 2015, states the release.
General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a new program to…