US Air Force Program Will Add New Life To Old Warthogs
Boeing submitted a proposal to the
US Air Force this week to participate as an associate prime
contractor in the projected $1.6 billion A-10 Thunderbolt
Life-Cycle Program Support (TLPS) contract to support the
sustainment of the A-10 Thunderbolt II weapon system and
integration of current and future requirements.
"We are confident the Air Force will continue to recognize the
resources and competencies that The Boeing Company brings to the
warfighter," said Steve Waltman, director of Boeing Aircraft
Sustainment & Maintenance, a subdivision of the company's
Maintenance, Modifications & Upgrades division. "We are
committed to the standard of excellence we have exhibited on the
current A-10 Wing Replacement Program and, if selected, we will
deliver the same outstanding level of customer satisfaction and
performance on the TLPS contract."
Boeing won the $2 billion A-10 Wing Replacement Program contract
in June 2007. The program includes engineering services and the
manufacture of up to 242 wing sets for the Air Force's A-10 fleet.
Boeing says that program is on schedule, with work underway on the
3-D models to provide the engineering foundation for current wing
sustainment needs, design improvements to prevent cracking, and
production of the enhanced wing sets.
As ANN reported, the Air Force grounded 127 of
its A-10s last October, until inspections were conducted throughout
the fleet for evidence of wing cracking.
"The Boeing solution for the A-10 Wing Replacement Program
allows the A-10 fleet to fly for at least another 20 years,
providing the close-air support our troops need," said Bill
Moorefield, A-10 program manager for Boeing. "Our proposal for TLPS
takes that one step further -- providing support for the aircraft
fleet while ensuring relevance and viability through 2028 and
beyond."
The Air Force will select up to three contractors to compete for
individual task and delivery orders over the life of the contract.
Work will include avionics, mechanical, structural, and propulsion
system upgrade work and a program integration support task.
The A-10, also known as the Warthog, was first introduced into
the Air Force inventory in 1976. The twin-engine aircraft provides
close-air support of ground forces and employs a wide variety of
conventional munitions, including general-purpose bombs. The
simple, effective and survivable single-seat aircraft can be used
against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored
vehicles. The aircraft is currently supporting operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq.