Here are the programs that made the biggest news over the past week:
Apache mega-deal fast approaching — The Army is getting ready to plunk down up to $10 billion on hundreds of new AH-64E Apache helicopters, we reported. The service could order anywhere between 240 and 450 Apaches from Boeing for a total contract award of between $5 billion and $10 billion — a deal that could also involve helos for foreign customers. The deal would run from 2017 through 2021, and the Army’s acquisition executive has already signed off on it. In all, the Army expects to purchase 690 helicopters, and 93 have been delivered to the Army since October 2011. Read more AH-64 analysis >>>
Aging AC-130s not going anywhere — With operational demands showing no signs of subsiding, Air Force Special Operations Command will be slowing their plans to retire AC-130 gunships, we reported. Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold, the general in charge of the command, said at a symposium that its replacement — the AC-130J — won’t make it to the field in time to keep up with operational requirements, and therefore the service has made the decision to “buy back” legacy aircraft to lower risk. Read more C-130 analysis >>>
CH-47 upgrades on the way — The Army is looking forward to the next iteration of the CH-47 Chinook, and the proposed Block 2 upgrade could be ready by 2017 if all goes well, according to an AINonline report. It’s part of a series of upgrades meant to extend the life of the helicopter in order to keep it operating through 2060, the program manager told reporters at a Boeing event. Production would begin around 2021 for the upgrade, which would include an advanced rotor blade to improve performance in hot-and-high conditions, as well as fuel system modifications. Read more CH-47 analysis >>>
GPS problems resolved, Raytheon says — Raytheon has solved problems with the ground control system that it is in charge of manufacturing for the Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, we reported. The Operational Control System (OCX) had some issues that caused the price tag to balloon 80 percent to $1.6 billion, prompting Pentagon weapons buyer Frank Kendall to order a deep-dive review of the program. However, Raytheon insists that they now have the situation under control. Read more GPS analysis >>>