The Air Force on Nov. 22 awarded Pratt & Whitney $93 million for engine work on F-22 Raptors. The contract, which lasts until Dec. 31, 2017, covers sustainment labor, data, and combined test force operations and support for the F119 engines, according to a Defense Department announcement. The contract covers Active Duty and Air National Guard F-22s, with work to be conducted at a Pratt & Whitney facility in East Hartford, Conn., as well as Edwards AFB, Calif.; JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Hill AFB, Utah; JB Langley-Eustis, Va.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Tinker AFB, Okla.; and Tyndall AFB, Fla.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.