The Missile Defense Agency awarded Northrop Grumman a $600 million contract modification to continue its work on the Ballistic Missile Defense System. The total value of the cost-plus-award-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is now $3.85 billion, according to a Pentagon release. Under the deal, Northrop will continue to provide technical and operational products and services, support the definition, development, and test and evaluation of integrated missile defense capabilities, and assist with exercises, wargame command and control procedures, operational concepts, and doctrinal requirements. Work will be performed in Colorado, Alabama, Virginia, New Mexico, Alaska, California, and Hawaii.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
