Rockwell Collins says it has teamed with Boeing and Honeywell to vie for the Air Force’s KC-10 aircraft modernization program. Last month, Rockwell got a $3.5 million contract to conduct a KC-10 AMP concept refinement study. Contracts for work on concept studies also have gone to Northrop Grumman, ($1.1 million), Smiths Aerospace ($1.3 million), L-3 Communications ($2.1 million), and ARINC Engineering ($1.9 million). Actual award of the AMP contract—designed to outfit the combo airlifter-tanker with enhanced digital avionics—by March 2008.
The "Air Force One" replacement will be two to three years late due to pandemic issues, testing, and the loss of a subcontractor on the interior, USAF officials reported at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. They were also warned that some HASC members will insist on a competition for…