The Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.4 million contract to upgrade the workstations in the Distributed Common Ground System, according to a company release. The DCGS is a series of intelligence centers spread out worldwide in which USAF analysts process imagery and signals intelligence from both manned and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. They pass intelligence products from there on to combat troops on the front lines. In the past, these analysts were not able to easily exchange data between multiple platforms. Under the initial task order, Lockheed will upgrade 200 work stations so analysts may use both UNIX and Windows-based software applications simultaneously, from a single work station. The new workstations all will include four-panel, color LCD monitors, allowing analysts to simultaneously view multiple full-motion video feeds, said company officials. (For more on DCGS, read ISR Revolution from the June issue of Air Force Magazine.)
Sticker Shock Drags Out USAF’s E-7 Negotiations with Boeing
April 18, 2024
While a deal on the E-7 Wedgetail airborne battle management jet may come soon, negotiations are stuck on the high price Boeing is asking for the development jets, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said recently.