Officials at the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah say Boeing will deliver the first of the new A-10 replacement wings in July 2010 under the contract the Air Force recently awarded for 242 wing sets. Developing and awarding this contract, reports 1st Lt. Nancy Dias, took nearly three years. The Air Force extended the service life of the Warthogs from 6,000 flying hours to 16,000 hours by making structural modifications; however, despite the enhancements, the A-10s with “thin-skin” wings are failing at a high rate, according to Brent Berrett, director of Ogden’s 538th Aircraft Sustainment Group. Without this wing replacement program, the service would have to begin grounding A-10s in 2011.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.