“We think we can substantially improve over what Boeing offered us. I would say we will not meet in the middle,” said Air Force acquisition czar Andrew Hunter.
By Valerie InsinnaProduction of an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft has also slipped by a year, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
By Michael Marrow“We were asked to put in our offer and then they [the NATO Support and Procurement Agency] didn’t really go into discussion with us, because they had already decided they had to go and buy Wedgetail,” Micael Johansson, CEO at Saab told Breaking Defense.
By Tim MartinDespite disagreements with Boeing on pricing for the E-7A Wedgetail, Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said officials still see the radar plane “as a capability that makes sense and that we need to field in the near term.”
By Michael MarrowDevelopment of the Air Force’s first two rapid prototype radar planes proved more difficult than expected, according to acquisition chief Andrew Hunter.
By Michael MarrowAs Breaking Defense toured Boeing’s Seattle area facilities where the E-7 radar plane will take shape, company officials talked about getting the bird in the air — and their vision for what it can do.
By Michael MarrowAsked about the timeline floated by an L3Harris official, a NATO spokesperson told Breaking Defense the alliance is still assessing “the way ahead.”
By Tim MartinThough the UK will get three planes instead of five, the procurement report estimates that the E-7 program will cost $2.5 billion, only marginally less costly than the $2.7 billion agreed in the original order.
By Tim MartinThrough its open systems architecture and agile software development, the E-7 provides rapid, affordable capability growth to remain a critical asset as threats evolve.
By BOEINGThe Air Force previously provided notice it would award the contract to Boeing in a sole-source acquisition. The first aircraft is scheduled to arrive in fiscal 2027.
By Michael MarrowThe AFSC capability program aims to define “a new generation of surveillance and control capabilities” underpinned by a systems of systems architecture approach, intended to integrate “multiple capabilities and platforms” for future multidomain operations, according to the RfI.
By Tim Martin“While the Plan continues to serve a useful purpose in reporting to Parliament on planned expenditure, the volatile external environment means this year’s Plan is already out of date,” said the NAO.
By Tim MartinA tranche of F-35s will be delayed, as will the E-7 Wedgetail, while the Atlas transport has overcome a “regrettable collection of discoveries.”
By Tim Martin