Yesterday, Raytheon announced receipt of a $5.7 million USAF contract to upgrade software on the TV-guided variant of the Maverick air-to-surface missile. Col. Eric Theisen, Air Combat Command’s advanced programs division chief, said these software modifications will improve the pilot’s ability to visually identify and engage distant targets, thereby enabling greater standoff distances for the missile’s launch and better aircraft survivability. “The Maverick has always been ideal for close air support missions; now it’s even better,” added Harry Schulte, Raytheon’s vice president of air warfare systems.
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.