The Air Force wants to continue its radar lookout post on the remote island of Shemya, Alaska. In April, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Strategic Warning and Surveillance Systems Division released a request for proposal to continue operations of the Cobra Dane radar system. The $511 million contract covers operation, maintenance, support, and sustainment of the site for seven years, according to a May 16 Air Force Space Command release. The Air Force expects to award a contract late this year. The Cobra Dane system detects and classifies objects for US Strategic Command’s ballistic missile defense, along with tracking objects in Low-Earth Orbit.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.