Brig. Gen. C.D. Moore, head of the Aeronautical Systems Center unit overseeing production and fielding of the F-22A Raptor, says, “It’s been a banner year so far” for Raptor delivery and upgrades. ASC journalist Chris McGhee reports that deliveries have been “consistently on or ahead of schedule.” According to this report, the Air Force will sign multiyear contracts for the next three production lots of aircraft and engines later this summer. During a visit to Vance AFB, Okla., last week, Raptor Program Executive Officer, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Reimer, reportedly said USAF and Lockheed Martin signed the 60-aircraft MYP on June 29. In addition to the MYP, Moore says ASC is pushing the first of four modernization upgrades for the already fielded fighters. Moore’s unit also plans to award a 10-year F-22 logistics support contract later this year that will include a share of work for USAF depots.
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc. and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems matching $17.7 million contracts for an "Off-Board Sensing Station,” which is an unmanned aircraft that would extend a manned fighter’s sensing range and also potentially carry additional weapons for that aircraft. The cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts…