Search

Air Force F-35A IOC Declaration Buys Political Support, Analysts Say

Air Force F-35A IOC Declaration Buys Political Support, Analysts Say
The first F-35A for the Italian Air Force, and the first F-35 built at the Cameri FACO, takes to the skies over Italy, Sept. 7, 2015. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

Declaring initial operational capability (IOC) for the F-35A will benefit the Air Force more politically than in the skies, according to a pair of analysts.Teal Group Vice President of Analysis Richard Aboulafia told Defense Daily Tuesday foreign customers are questioning buying into a program that hasn’t entered service. Aboulafia said while the Air Force wants to get the F-35A out in combat to show it off for these international customers, the problem is that there are “very few” scenarios that…

Subscriber-only content. Please log in below.

Not a subscriber or registered user yet?

Please contact us at clientservices@accessintel.com or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.



Contract Updates

Aerojet Rocketdyne Coleman Aerospace Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc. (Orlando, Florida) – $10,333,902

Aerojet Rocketdyne, Coleman Aerospace Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Orlando, Florida, is being awarded a $10,333,902 modification (P00258) to exercise an option to a previously awarded contract (HQ1047-14-C-0001) to increase calendar year 2026 program management office…


The Bell Boeing Joint Project Office (California, Maryland) – $262,069,451

The Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, California, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $262,069,451 fixed-price-incentive, performance-based contract for V-22 Phase II consumable market basket items. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in…


Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) – $264,867,008

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded an estimated $264,867,008 modification to award a hybrid firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (SPRTA1-26-F-0020) against a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (SPRTA1-19-D-0001) for B-2 rudders. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification…


General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. (Sterling Heights, Michigan) – $11,146,013

General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded an $11,146,013 modification (P00122) to contract W56HZV-22-C-0012 to exercise option hours for Abrams system technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of…