With Cancellation of E-10 Air Force Moves to Modernize E-8
Filed under: Contract Awards, Military Aviation, Northrop Grumman Corp., U.S. Air Force, development program
The US Air Force has been using the E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft for almost thirty years. Originally the Air Force planned to supplement it with the new, E-10 Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A); but that program was canceled last year. The new sensor for that system was the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP RTIP) which also is to go on the Global Hawk long range UAV. As MarketWatch.com reports the Air Force is now moving to insert the MP RTIP sensor onto the E-8 airframe. A contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman to begin that process. Read more
US Navy Buys Micro UAV’s
Filed under: Contract Awards, Honeywell, Military Aviation, New Mexico, U.S. Navy, development program
Honeywell was awarded a contract by the US Navy to provide micro, ducted fan Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. New Mexico Business Weekly reports that the $65 M contract will supply 95 of the systems. The T-Hawk has already been used in combat situations in Iraq and is a saucer shaped vehicle with the ability to carry video cameras for pin point reconnaissance. The primary use of UAV like these by the US Military is to provide as close as possible real time intellgence in support of tactical operations. Read more
Lockheed protests BAMS award
Filed under: Boeing, Contract Awards, Lockheed Martin, Military Aviation, Northrop Grumman Corp., Protest, U.S. Navy, development program
As previously discussed here the US Navy awarded the Broad Aeriel Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) contract to Northrop Grumman. The two losers were Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Now according to this story Lockheed is protesting. Northrop Grumman won with a version of the Global Hawk, Lockheed had proposed a scaled up version of the Predator UAV. It was not surprising that Global Hawk won as the Navy had already tested it, but Lockheed is basing their protest on the word that the Navy found their proposal technically adequate and cheaper then the Northrop one. Read more
Northrop Grumman wins BAMS SD&D contract
Filed under: Australia, Boeing, Contract Awards, Lockheed Martin, Military Aviation, Northrop Grumman Corp., U.S. Navy, development program
As reported yesterday the BAMS DAB was held. The Navy awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman for a version of the Global Hawk long range, large UAV. See a story here. Boeing and Lockheed Martin were the losing bidders. On top of the KC-45 contract this can be seen as a blow to Boeing by Northrop Grumman. Read more
US Air Force awards reconnaissance network support contract to Spectrum Communications
Filed under: IT, Spectrum Communications, U.S. Air Force, logistics
According to DefenseLink.mil, yesterday the US Air Force awarded Spectrum Communications of Hampton, VA a ID/IQ contract with a possible value of $74.5 M. This contract will support the 560th Aircraft Sustainment Group and provide development, management and sustainment of the various reconnaissance assets and communication networks of the US Air Force. These include the U-2, Global Hawk, Predator and a variety of data links and communication systems.
Northrop Grumman Competing For U.S. Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance contract.
According to the Mississippi Press, “Northrop is competing against Boeing and a Lockheed-Martin-led group to win [a] seven-year deal to build unmanned aircraft. The $3 billion contract is expected to be awarded in early February.” If Northrop wins the contract, the aircraft will be assembled at Northrop’s Moss Point Unmanned Systems Center.
More details here.





