Boeing is “very happy” in its partnership with Lockheed Martin to develop technologies and eventually a proposal for the next generation bomber, and the arrangement will stay intact for now, Boeing Military Aircraft President Chris Chadwick told reporters Wednesday. The team comprises the only two fighter primes left in the US, and “we complement each other” very well, he said. The partnership was announced last year on the assumption that money would be in the Fiscal 2010 budget to start designing the bomber. The team is awaiting guidance out of the Quadrennial Defense Review about new timing and direction for the bomber project and will stay together at least until those announcements are made. Chadwick declined to speculate whether the two would stay married if the bomber turns into a large unmanned platform; both companies have a goal of becoming a key prime in future unmanned systems.
The Air Force’s plans for its portion of joint all-domain command and control have taken a major step forward. The service awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity, multiple-award contract worth up to $950 million to 27 companies. The IDIQ deal will give 27 contractors the opportunity to compete for work…