The Air Force has awarded Boeing a one-year, $2.9 million contract to “develop and validate” the modification of the A-10’s digital video audio data recorder. The contract is part of the A-10 Thunderbolt Life-Cycle Program Support initiative, according to a company release. The modifications are intended to improve “supportability issues with a major subcomponent in the DVADR system,” states the release. “This task order allows Boeing to continue to enhance the performance of the A-10 and keep this invaluable asset ready to support the warfigher,” said Jerry Dunmire, the company’s A-10 program director. “The Boeing team is ready to apply its innovation and cost-saving initiatives.” Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman also have performed work under TLPS to improve the Air Force’s Warthog fleet. This is the sixth contract to Boeing under TLPS.
The Air Force won’t finalize a new deal with Boeing for another 75 KC-46 tankers until some of the “deficiencies” with the refueler are resolved, new Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Lamontagne told lawmakers March 4.