Members of industry will gather on Tuesday at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, for several days of discussions on the options available for T-X, the Air Force’s next-generation Advanced Pilot Training family of systems. T-X is envisioned as the replacement to the service’s aging fleet of T-38 trainers. Although a needed capability, Air Force officials have acknowledged that replacing the T-38s remains a secondary priority as budgets tighten. “The purpose of this event is to broaden United States Air Force knowledge on the depth, breadth and dynamics of the market, communicate to industry pre-decisional information on the Advanced Pilot Training family of systems, and allow industry to offer candid feedback, especially with respect to affordability and costs versus capability analyses currently being conducted by the government program team,” states the notice posted at the Federal Business Opportunities website. A Wright-Patt spokesman confirmed to the Daily Report on Jan. 28 that the event was still on.
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.