USAF

PARIS, June 18, 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) delivered its first Miniature Air Launched Decoy initial operational test and evaluation unit to the U.S. Air Force.

During IOT&E, the U.S. Air Force will conduct numerous flight tests on the MALD™ to evaluate the system in operationally realistic and demanding scenarios.

MALD is a state-of-the-art, low-cost flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched and programmable. It weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (about 575 statute miles). MALD protects aircrews and their aircraft by duplicating the combat flight profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - As the union strike at Vance Air Force Base entered its second day, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today made the following statement:

"If the negotiations do not reach a conclusion within the next seven days, the Air Force will be forced to send the current senior training class of pilots to another base that conducts training for pilots. If students begin to be shipped out to Texas or Mississippi, it could have dire consequences for the future of Vance.    » read more »

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., May 29, 2009 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) newest variant of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile continued to demonstrate its advanced warfighting capabilities when it completed its seventh test flight.

During the March 19 test, the AIM-120D AMRAAM was fired from a U.S. Air Force F-15D fighter aircraft. Initial analysis shows the missile achieved all primary test objectives.

"The hard work of the U.S. government-Raytheon team to deliver a world-class missile continues to pay off," said Col. Michael Andersen, commander of the U.S. Air Force's 328th Armament Systems Group. "The AIM-120D program is on track and will deliver to the U.S. warfighter the most capable beyond-visual range air-to-air missile ever fielded."    » read more »

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 29, 2009 – A U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber returned to flight last week after a team led by The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] replaced its catastrophically damaged upper-center boron longeron – the aircraft's "backbone."

The B-1, Swift Justice, was damaged during a routine training mission in December 2007. An engine-bleed air duct rupture triggered a temperature warning light, forcing the crew to land the aircraft at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

Replacing the upper-center boron longeron, which is essential for stability in flight, is not a simple task because the part is unique to each aircraft, with no spares available.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 – Last week, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson issued this statement in response to the U.S. Air Force selecting Lackland Air Force Base in Texas as the new headquarters for the 24th Air Force cyber unit, over Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha and four other finalists.

“We knew the decision was made that it wasn’t coming to Offutt and I assumed they would make sure this time that the criteria matched the decision. After the Global Strike Command fiasco, the processes used for these decisions have little credibility.    » read more »

Cyber Command HQ Will Bring Jobs & Expanded National Defense Role to San Antonio

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - After a long and rigorous review process, the U.S. Air Force has selected Lackland Air Force Base as the site for the headquarters for the new 24th Air Force, the command responsible for cyber security.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) last week applauded the announcement made by Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley. Based on selection criteria set forth by the Air Force, Lackland was determined to be the best-qualified installation among the six nationwide candidates that were being considered for the base.    » read more »

The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program.

Along with the B-52 and B-1B, the B-2 provides the penetrating flexibility and effectiveness inherent in manned bombers. Its low-observable, or "stealth," characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued, and heavily defended, targets. Its capability to penetrate air defenses and threaten effective retaliation provides a strong, effective deterrent and combat force well into the 21st century.    » read more »

May 15, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today issued the following comments on the U.S. Air Force's announcement that Lackland Air Force base in Texas has been selected as the preferred alternative to locate the Cyber 24th Air Force. The announcement was made as part of the Air Force's Environmental Impact Analysis Process. A final decision by the Air Force Secretary is expected upon completion of the EIAP.    » read more »

February 26th, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key posts at the Department of Defense: Jim Miller, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy, and Lt. Gen. Wallace "Chip" Gregson, Jr. (USMC, Ret), Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs.

The White House today also announced that the following individuals will remain serving in their current posts at the Department of Defense: Mike Donley, Secretary of the Air Force; Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper (USAF, Ret), Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence; and Michael G. Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Capabilities (SO/LIC&IC).    » read more »

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

ExxonMobil Fuels marketing Co., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a maximum $84,669,874 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel oil, diesel fuel and gasoline. Using service is Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and US/NATO personnel. There were originally seven proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-9410).    » read more »

CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

Science Applications International Corp., of San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a contract for $9,500,000. The purpose of this contract is to advance the technology and/or increase knowledge and understanding of chemical, biological and radiological threats to personnel, equipment, operations based on various environmental factors and develop capabilities to effectively communicate CBR impacts and issues including response and consequence management topics to a wide range of planning and decision-making levels.

The location of performance is Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, Calif. At this time $999,844 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-08-D-6918).    » read more »

CONTRACTS

ARMY

Sterling Medical Associates, Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded on Aug. 25, 2008, a $11,326,360 firm fixed price contract. The purpose of this contract is to obtain the personal and non – personal services of traumatic brain injury health providers for the military treatment facilities located throughout Germany and Vicenza, Italy. Work will be performed in Landstuhl, Germany with an estimated completion date of Sept 18, 2013. Ten bids were solicited and five were received. US Army Medical Command Europe Regional Contracting Office, Landstuhl – Kirchberg, Germany, is the contracting activity (W911F4F-08-C-0020).    » read more »

9/1/2008 - BATON ROUGE, La. (AFPN) -- As Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Gulf Coast, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security praised the men and women of the Air Force and the National Guard for their efforts during preparations for the storm.

Secretary Michael Chertoff said the services were especially useful to help evacuate people with medical needs, such as critical care patients, who would be unable to otherwise leave the area.

"It was really the Air National Guard and the Air Force who came to the rescue setting up an air bridge so we could fly people out on C-130s and C-17s," he said. "It was a real positive addition to the capabilities we have on the ground."    » read more »

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Marietta, Ga., is being awarded a $129,259,000 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract action (UCA) for the fabrication and delivery of 13 P-3 Outer Wing Assembly (OWA) kits in support of the P-3 recovery plan. Work will be performed in Marietta, Ga., and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity (N00019-08-C-0066).    » read more »

CONTRACTS

NAVY

McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $149,801,176 firm-fixed-priced contract for the procurement of nine Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) exercise missiles retrofitted and certified from SLAMs to SLAM-ERs for the U.S. Navy.    » read more »