Contract: QuantaDyn, $27M

QuantaDyn Corp., Ashburn, Va., has been awarded a $27,000,000 modification (P00016) to previously awarded contract FA8621-16-C-6396 for the Joint Terminal Control Training and Rehearsal System (JTC TRS). Contractor will provide an additional quantity of 23 JTC TRS production devices. Work will be performed at Ft. Riley, Kan.; Ft. Campbell, Ky.; Ft. Wainwright, Alaska; Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii; Ft Stewart, Ga.; Einsiedlerhof, Germany; Vilseck, Germany; Ft Irwin, Calif.; Ft. Polk, La.; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; Ft. Carson, Colo.; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Ft Hood, Texas; Pope Army Air Field, N.C.; Ft. Bragg, N.C.; Mildenhall, United Kingdom; Cannon AFB, N.M.; and Kadena Air Base, Japan. Work is expected to be complete by May 31, 2018. Fiscal 2016 other procurement; and fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $26,397,417 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/31/17)

Contract: Electron Metrology, $10.5M

Electronic Metrology Laboratory LLC, Franklin, Tenn., is being awarded a $10,518,527 modification under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N69450-14-D-8000) to exercise Option 3 for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., and outlying fields. The work to be performed provides for all management, supervision, labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and tools necessary to perform facilities management, facilities investment, facility maintenance services (non-family housing), pest control, utility plant and distribution system operations and maintenance (chiller, electrical, gas, wastewater, steam and water), managed safety services, and base support vehicles and equipment. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $29,317,959. Work will be performed in Milton, Fla. (80 percent); and outlying fields (20 percent), and work is expected to be completed March 2018. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/31/17)

Contract: SOLPAC, $15.6M

SOLPAC Construction, doing business as Soltek Pacific Construction Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $15,588,300 for firm-fixed-price task order 0005 under a previously awarded, multiple award construction contract (N62473-15-D-2426) for construction of an F-35C engine repair facility at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The project includes reinforced concrete masonry unit walls, built-up roof, and pile foundation. Built-in equipment includes bridge cranes and support rails, stacker storage system, and elevator. The project also includes facility paving and site improvements, utilities, and environmental mitigation features. The task order also contains one planned modification, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $16,806,300. Work will be performed in Lemoore, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 2018. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/31/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $581.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $581,798,359 firm-fixed-price delivery order (0132) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This modification provides for air vehicle initial spares to include F-35 common spares; F-35A, F-35B and F-35C unique spares, and aloft spares packages/deployment spares packages and reprogramming lab spares required to support the air vehicle delivery schedule for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants, and foreign military sales customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (24.4 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (9 percent); Owego, N.Y. (8.6 percent); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (7.2 percent); Cheltenham, United Kingdom (6.2 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5.8 percent); Torrance, Calif. (5.5 percent); Orlando, Fla. (4.9 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (3.7 percent); San Diego, Calif. (3.6 percent); Phoenix, Ariz. (3.1 percent); Melbourne, Fla. (3 percent); Irvine, Calif. (2.5 percent); North Amityville, N.Y. (2.4 percent); Windsor Locks, Conn. (2.2 percent); Baltimore, Md. (2.2 percent); Papendrect, Netherlands (1.9 percent); Rolling Meadows, Ill. (1.8 percent); and Alpharetta, Ga. (1.8 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2021. This delivery order combines purchases for the Air Force (32.7 percent); Navy (4.9 percent); Marine Corps (20.3 percent); non-DoD participants (35.9 percent); and foreign military sales (14.3 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/31/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Goal: Fly different plane each week

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Navy Lt. Ryan Rankin, a Naval Air Station Pensacola instructor pilot, has set out to fly a different plane for every week of 2017. "I feel drawn to it. It is a feeling that I cannot describe. When I don't fly for a while, I miss it," said Rankin, 33, who is taking advantage of shore duty and using his military leave time to reach his goal of flying 52 different planes before the end of the year. A network of vintage aircraft enthusiasts is helping him find the various aircraft. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 03/30/17)

Contract: Boeing, $15M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded a $15,000,000 modification (P00005) to previously awarded contract FA8681‐14‐D‐0028 for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) technical support and aircraft integration. Contractor will provide JDAM support for studies and analysis; product improvement; upgrades; integration including, but not limited to, software integration, aircraft integration; associated hardware and testing. Work will be performed at St. Louis and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2019. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/30/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $95.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $95,773,177 for modification P00012 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-16-C-0004) to provide technical and logistics services, training, maintenance and repair services, and supply chain management in support of F-35 joint strike fighter for a non-Department of Defense participant. Work will be performed outside the U.S. (80 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2020. Non-Department of Defense funding in the amount of $95,773,177 is being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/30/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $16.1M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $16,109,145 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for maintenance, repair, and logistics support for the Chief of Naval Air Training aircraft’s intermediate maintenance. Support to be provided includes labor, equipment, tools, services, and direct and indirect material. Work will be performed at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. (60 percent); and Corpus Christi, Texas (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2022. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated against individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61340-17-D-0005). (Source: DoD, 03/29/17)

Contract: Rockwell, $142.4M

Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $142,356,338 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive, firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of the Tactical Combat Training System Increment II (TCTS Inc II) environment improvement of the air combat training with rangeless air combat and secure air-to-air and air-to-ground data link. This contract will include participant subsystems; ground subsystems; remote range units; peculiar support equipment; enhanced threats; platform interfaces; an internal rack-mounted subsystem capability for fixed wing and rotary aircraft; and an internal subsystem for the Joint Strike Fighter. Work will be done in Cedar Rapids (65 percent); Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (20 percent); Richardson, Texas (10 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2022. Fiscal 2017 research, development, testing and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,318,444 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals, with two offers received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61340-17-C-0007). (Source: DoD, 03/28/17)

Contract: Rolls-Royce, $106.9M

Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded $106,898,882 for modification P00007 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, requirements contract (N00019-14-D-0016) to provide intermediate, depot-level maintenance and related logistics support for approximately 209 in-service T-45 F405-RR-401 Adour engines. Work will be performed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas (46 percent); NAS Meridian, Miss. (42 percent); NAS Pensacola, Fla. (11 percent); and NAS Patuxent River, Md. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2018. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/28/17)

Contract: RT&T, $11.7M

Reliance Test & Technology, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., has been awarded an $11,725,589 modification (P00011) to previously awarded contract FA2486-16-C-0002 for Eglin operation and maintenance support service. This modification increases government provided values of cost reimbursable items supporting the National Radar Test Facility. Work will be performed at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2026. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $7,257,273 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/28/17)

B-25 to honor Raiders

NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. – The National Naval Aviation Museum is paying tribute to the Doolittle Raiders by refurbishing a B-25 B Mitchell bomber as a replica of the one flown by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle. Sixteen Army bombers with 80 airmen flew off the carrier to hit Japan four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, providing a needed boost to U.S. morale. They trained at nearby Eglin Air Force Base. The bomber will go on display outside the museum's Blue Angels Atrium on April 18 to mark the 75th anniversary of the raid. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 03/27/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $10.5M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $10,470,663 for delivery order 0011 against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020) to complete a Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 3 risk reduction and integration study of the F-35 air system for the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (75 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Lancashire, United Kingdom (10 percent); and Redondo Beach, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2020. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/24/17) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

VT-2 slates command change

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. - Cmdr. Joseph McGilley, U.S. Coast Guard, will turn over command of Training Squadron TWO (VT-2) to Cmdr. Zachariah Aperauch, U.S. Navy, during a change of command ceremony Friday at 10 a.m. in the Naval Air Station Whiting Field North Field hangar. Under McGilley's leadership VT-2 flew more than 30,000 flight hours in the completion of more than 18,800 sorties, with 350 student aviators going through the primary flight training syllabus. Aperauch has 17 years experience and is executive officer of the squadron. He'll be replaced in that role by Cmdr. Mark A. Jackson, also of the Coast Guard. (Source: NAS Whiting Field, 03/20/17)

Contract: Boeing, $24.7M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded a $24,685,675 modification (P00147) to previously awarded contract FA8678-10-C-0100 for QF-16 full-scale aerial target (FSAT) Lot 5A production. Contractor will provide 18 QF-16 FSATs and 18 associated four-year warranties for the QF-16 drone-peculiar equipment program. Work will be performed at St. Louis and is expected to be complete by April 27, 2021. Fiscal 2017 procurement funds in the amount of $24,685,675 were obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Awarded on March 14, 2017). (Source: DoD, 03/22/17)

Contract: ERC, $99M

Engineering Research and Consulting Inc., Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $99,000,000 firm-fixed-price level of effort, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Seek Eagle modeling, analysis, and tools support. Contractor will provide skills and expertise to provide modeling and simulation, engineering and analysis, product development support, project management, and administrative functions. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by Sept. 22, 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with three offers received. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $12,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-16-R-0065). (Source: DoD, 03/22/17)

Army casualty identified

The Department of Defense announced Monday the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Boniface, 34, of San Luis Obispo, Calif., died March 19 in Logar Province, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Source: DoD, 03/20/17)

Not your average airman

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- When most people think of an Air Force recruit, they picture a young man or woman not far removed from high school. But Airman 1st Class Maria Perez is 39. She wanted to join in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack. But the single mother of a 3-year-old decided she couldn’t. When the Air Force increased its maximum age for enlistment to 39, she jumped at the chance. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 03/18/17)

Contract: HX5, $95M

HX5, LLC, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $95,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for personnel, supervision, and services necessary to provide services for research and development and related activities for the Engineer Research and Development Center Information Technology Laboratory. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 14, 2022. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity (W912HZ-17-D-0005). (Source: DoD, 03/15/17)

Flag officer assignment

Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson announced today that Rear Adm. (lower half) Kyle J. Cozad, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Fla. Cozad is currently serving as commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group, Norfolk, Va. (Source: DoD, 03/15/17)

Morris, Pilch tapped for promotions

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Two Eglin officers have been nominated for general rank appointments. In one appointment, Brig. Gen. Shaun Morris, the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons and Armament Directorate director, was nominated to the grade of major general. In the other, Col. Lansing R. Pilch, commander 33rd Fighter Wing, Air Education and Training Command, has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 03/14/17)

Program targets helo pilots

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- PSA Airlines and SkyWarrior Inc. will formally sign a Rotor Transition Program agreement to help military rotor pilots transition to commercial aviation. PSA is partnering with Pensacola-based SkyWarrior and will contribute up to $23,000 toward flight-time requirements to help military rotor pilots achieve R-ATP. Most military rotor pilots qualify for the FAA's lowest-minimum restricted ATP. Although many of these pilots have the 750-hour total time, they fall short of the 250-hour fixed-wing PIC requirement or 25 hour multi engine requirement. The signing is Wednesday, 9 a.m., at SkyWarrior, 4141 Jerry L. Maygarden Rd., Pensacola. (Source: City of Pensacola, 03/14/17) Note: Naval Air Station Whiting Field near Milton trains military pilots.

Contract: Jacobs, $204.9M

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has received a task order to support the U.S. Air Force 53rd Wing operations. The task order was awarded with a value of $204.9 million over four years and nine months if all options are exercised, and focuses on the provision of information technology support for weapons and computer systems related to systems development and operational activities. Work sites are primarily located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., but some work will also be done at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and other locations. Services detailed in the task order include a wide variety of support to weapon systems engineering and integration solutions, network solutions, test and evaluation network support, cyber security, software, computer systems development, network systems operation, and operational test and evaluation support. (Source: Business Wire, 03/14/17)

Contract: Kratos, $22.3M

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions’ subsidiary Composite Engineering Inc. (CEi) received the Lot 13 production of a previous awarded contract for Lots 11-13 of the Air Force Subscale Aerial Target. The $22.3 million contract will be performed by the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, comprised of CEi and Micro Systems Inc. (MSI). CEi’s Sacramento, Calif., facility will lead the effort and provide 25 high performance BQM-167A aerial targets and associated technical support. The Fort Walton Beach, Fla.-based MSI will supply the majority of the high performance avionics utilized on the aircraft, including critical command, control and flight computer systems. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: Globe Newswire, 03/13/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $64.7M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $64,686,522 for firm-fixed-priced delivery order N0001917F0108 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order procures work on the integrated core processor in order to alleviate diminishing manufacturing sources constraints projected under F-35 production Lot 15 for the Air Force (40 percent); the Navy (20 percent); the Marine Corps (20 percent); and international partners (20 percent). Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2019. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 031017) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Applied Systems, $11.7M

Applied Systems Engineering Corp., Niceville, Fla., is being awarded an $11,679,073 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide essential hardware, upgrades, and repairs for the Battle Management Systems program, specifically Advanced Tactical Navigator units. The work will be performed in Niceville and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $641,735 are being obligated for the first delivery order and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 031017)

Whiting relatives visit base

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. -- It was a homecoming of sorts early this month when a couple traveled to Milton to see the air station named after the woman’s grandfather 74 years ago. It was the first trip to Naval Air Station Whiting Field for Moira Walden and Fred Nehring. The air station was named for Capt. Kenneth Whiting, naval aviator No. 16. Moira is the daughter of Whiting’s youngest daughter, also named Moira. The couple, not knowing how to arrange a visit, contacted their congressman in Maine, who made all the necessary calls. They expected little more than a drive-around, but were taken on a tour of the base that trains Navy fliers, including the air traffic control towers, Training Air Wing FIVE’s two sim buildings, the night vision device lab and some aircraft on the flight lines. The highlight of the tour was seeing the memorial dedicated to her grandfather. It was unveiled by her mother more than 70 years earlier. (Source: Whiting Tower, 03/08/17)

F-35 in spending bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $578 billion fiscal 2017 defense spending bill Thursday. Among other measures, it allocates $8.2 billion to buy 74 additional F-35 fighters. The bill passed by a large bipartisan vote of 371-48. Not in the bill is the expected supplemental budget request from the administration. The bill also includes $187 million for 28 Mississippi-built Lakota helicopters that are used at the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center, which trains pilots and maintainers. And companies in the region, like Fort Walton Machining, make parts for the plane. The bill will be making its way to the Senate. (Sources: The Hill, WEAR-TV, Alabama Today, Defense News, 03/08/17)

Military exercises slated

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group will conduct boat operations in the Gulf of Mexico and the Choctawhatchee Bay March 13-16. Each morning fighter aircraft will release munitions between 8 a.m. and noon about 20 nautical miles south of Destin in the Gulf of Mexico. In the afternoons between 1 and 5 p.m., about 30 boats in formation will transverse between the Mid-Bay Bridge and the Highway 331 Bridge, to include 10 to 20 miles south of Destin. The boat formation will be used as visual targets by military aircraft. No weapons or ammunition will be involved with this boat formation. Some boats will have fake deck guns and rocket launcher tubes. The boats also will use marine flares as visual markers. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 03/07/17)

The F-35 in photos

F-35A takes off at Eglin. AF photo

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – A 33rd Fighter Wing F-35A takes off Feb. 27 to conduct sorties at Eglin Air Force Base. This photo is one of six photos released by Eglin today. Eglin Air Force Base in Northwest Florida is 724 square miles, and in addition to the over-land training space the base has access to some 120,000 miles of over water airspace. The F-35 is a multi-role fighter with variants for the Air Force (F-35A), Navy (F-35C) and Marine Corps (F-35B). The F-35's Pratt and Whitney engine produces 43,000 lbs of thrust. The 33rd Fighter Wing is a graduate flying and maintenance training wing for the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 Lightning II. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 03/07/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $20.6M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $20,639,536 for modification P00016 to the previously awarded low-rate initial production Lot 10 F-35 Lightning II advance acquisition contract (N00019-15-C-0003). This modification provides for airworthiness requirements, technical reviews, deficiency corrections, and chase maintenance for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-U.S. Department of Defense (Non-U.S. DoD) participants, and foreign military sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Nagoya, Japan (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force); non-DoD participants; and FMS funding in the amount of $20,639,536 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (41 percent); Navy/Marine Corps (10.25 percent); non-U.S. DoD participants (25.22 percent); and FMS customers (23.53 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/03/17) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $11.6M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an $11,650,000 not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract action against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order provides for initial operational test and evaluation configuration support efforts in support of the F-35 aircraft for the Air Force and Navy, and international partner countries. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (87 percent); Farnborough, Hampshire, England (6 percent); Orlando, Fla. (5 percent); Redondo Beach, Calif. (1 percent); and Greenville, S.C. (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed in October 2018. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Air Force); and international partners funds in the amount of $5,825,000 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Navy (44.4 percent); Air Force (31.7 percent); and international partners (23.9 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/02/17) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

WWII planes on display

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Several rare World War II planes will arrive in Pensacola Friday for a three-day Wing of Freedom Tour stop. A B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell bombers and P-51 Mustang fighter will fly into the Pensacola International Airport at 2 p.m. Friday and will be on display until 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Tours are available to explore the aircraft inside and out from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 03/02/17)

AC-130 laser test this year?

More than a year since news broke that Air Force Special Operations Command planned to install and test lasers on its AC-130 gunships, the plan now is to get its top unfunded requirement tested within a year. That’s what Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, head of AFSOC, told Breaking Defense. General Atomics and other companies have been spending their own research and development money on the capability. Webb said AFSOC, based at Hurlburt Field, Fla., hasn’t decided where the laser would go. The tests will help determine that, as well as which mix of weapons is most effective. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold, said the laser would probably go on the left side of the plane. (Source: Breaking Defense, 03/02/17)

Emerald Warrior underway

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- For the 10th year in a row the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command is hosting Emerald Warrior, a joint military exercise involving 1,500 military personnel. It began Feb. 27 and ends March 11 and will include participants from three partner nations along with the Air Force, Army and regular Marines. Scenarios will include operations involving inserting and removing troops from combat situations, direct assaults, military freefall, live-fire events. In addition to the activities in Northwest Florida, training will be conducted at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, Melrose Range, N.M., and Fort Knox, Ky. (Source: Destin Log, 02/14/17)