The Air Force is applying a new initiative designed to “bend the cost curve,” while accelerating acquisition, to at least three programs, service secretary Deborah James said Wednesday.
James said at the Atlantic Council think tank in downtown Washington the Air Force would apply an approach called “Plug Fest Plus” to the T-X trainer, Long Range Standoff (LRSO), and Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS). T-X is a long-awaited program worth potentially $30 billion to get new trainer aircraft into the fleet. Assistant Air Force Secretary for Acquisition William LaPlante will unveil Plug Fest Plus in an event Tuesday at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
The Air Force expects a T-X trainer request for proposals (RFP) in third quarter fiscal year 2016. The field of players include: Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Korea Aerospace offering the T-50; CAE USA; General Dynamics [GD] and Alenia Aermacchi; prime contractor Boeing [BA] with primary partner Saab AB offering a clean sheet approach; and Northrop Grumman [NOC] with subs Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and L-3 Communications [LLL] offering BAE’s Hawk advanced jet trainer. Alenia Aermacchi is a division of Finmeccanica.