The Air Force stuck out a “wanted sign” Friday, posting a draft RFP for the second phase of procurement of the Small Diameter Bomb. The Air Force must compete this phase, per direction from Congress last spring, following the conviction of former Air Force acquisition official Darleen Druyun, who admitted to steering the SDB program, among others, to Boeing. (See our report here.) The Air Force plans to hold an open industry day on Sept. 20 and meet individually with contractors through Sept. 22.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.