As part of its realignment efforts to consolidate aerospace systems activities, Northrop Grumman dedicated its new Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine, Fla. The company says the center will “drive efficiency and affordability,” which Maj. Gen. Wendy Masiello outlined as one of her top priorities as the newly-confirmed head of the Defense Contracting Management Agency. “Today’s dedication signifies our continued commitment to our service men and women, to our employees in St. Augustine, and to the state of Florida,” said Tom Vice, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president of aerospace systems. “The talented workforce at this center of excellence, coupled with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, will continue to benefit our customers, our company, and the community.” The dedication is in line with the company’s plan to create five consolidated centers of excellence, focusing on manned aircraft design, unmanned systems, electronic attack, and aircraft integration. The St. Augustine’s center will join one in Palmdale, Calif., in assembling, integrating, testing, and maintaining aircraft, including the F-35 strike fighter, B-2 Spirit bomber, the RQ-4 Global Hawk, and MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft.
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
