Air Force Global Strike Command is looking for help to protect its infrastructure from personal drones. The command, on April 11, released a request for proposals to industry for counter unmanned aircraft systems, looking for portable ways to detect drones and their command and control ground stations to defeat them. The RFP calls for a small, portable system less than six pounds that “must disrupt or manage the control link between a commercial UAS and the pilot,” the RFP’s statement of work states. The command wants a handled device “like a rifle or large handgun” to take out the drones, according to information with the RFP. There is an urgent need for the response, meaning contractors only have until May 11 to respond to the request.
The Air Force won’t finalize a new deal with Boeing for another 75 KC-46 tankers until some of the “deficiencies” with the refueler are resolved, new Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Lamontagne told lawmakers March 4.