US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded an $897,530,175 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-14-C-0032) for the procurement of 15 Lot 38 full-rate production EA-18G aircraft and associated airborne electronic attack kits. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California (40.3 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (24.1 percent); Bethpage, New York (18.5 percent); Cleveland, Ohio (1.7 percent); Bloomington, Minnesota (1.5 percent); Mesa, Arizona (1.3 percent); Torrance, California (1.3 percent); Vandalia, Ohio (1.1 percent); Ajax, California (1.1 percent); Irvine, California (0.8 percent); Santa Clarita, California (0.6 percent); South Korea (0.6 percent); and various other locations in the continental U.S. (7.1 percent). Work is expected to be completed in January 2018. Fiscal 2015 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $897,530,175 are 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, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

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Contracts

Press Operations

Release No: CR-206-15
October 27, 2015

Northrop Grumman, Falls Church, Virginia, has been awarded a contract for the Long Range Strike Bomber. For more information, please refer to:

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Northrup Grumman's LRS-B Concept​

Flight Global said:

The US Air Force has chosen Northrop Grumman to build America’s next stealth bomber in a landmark decision announced at the Pentagon today.

Northrop’s victory in the $55 billion Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) competition has been described as “stunning upset” against the cashed-up team of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and secures the B-2 creator’s place as a top-tier military aircraft manufacturer for decades to come.

The development contract includes options for the first 21 aircraft of what could become an at least 80-aircraft production run.

“Northrop’s victory in the bomber competition is a stunning upset, that demonstrates an underdog can still beat the best-endowed team in the industry,” says Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute. “This completely changes the business outlook for Northrop, and makes it look far more resilient company with a bright future.”

The announcement settles the question of the LRS-B manufacturer, but most details of the winning design – including performance and suppliers – remain a heavily-classified mystery.

Even the development timeline for the LRS-B programme remains shrouded by vague terms of budget documents, with air force officials saying the new bomber force is expected to be fielded by the mid-2020s.

The LRS-B fleet is needed to replace the Boeing B-52H and Rockwell B-1B fleets that lack low observability to radar.

The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office directed the three-year-long source selection process. A contract award was originally expected last spring, but was delayed for months with no explanation.

The award to Northrop changes the face of the aerospace industrial base, and potentially averts the breakup of the company. Had the company lost the LRS-B contract, elements could have been sold off to the highest bidder, says Teal Group vice-president and consultant Richard Aboulafia.

Instead, Lockheed’s fortunes are secure with the F-35, Boeing’s KC-46 programme is gaining momentum, and Northrop has secured LRS-B.

The Boeing/Lockheed team still has the option of protesting the contract award. A debriefing to both companies is required within 10 calendar days.

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Jeff Head said:

Let's get some details on here:

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View attachment 20652
Northrup Grumman's LRS-B Concept​

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Brumby said:

Great news for Northrup. I suspect both teams made excellent offerings but in my view the decider was in securing a strong industrial base. I don't think it is in the interest of the US to be totally dependent on just Boeing/Lockheed.

PS. Jeff, you beat Jura to this. He must still be sleeping. Lol

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