ARLINGTON, VA. - The Department of the Air Force made the decision to continue funding Anduril and General Atomics for detailed designs, manufacture, and testing of production representative test articles under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

The companies not selected to build these production representative CCA vehicles, and execute the flight test program, will continue to be part of the broader industry partner vendor pool consisting of more than 20 companies to compete for future efforts, including future production contracts.

"Just over two years ago, we announced our intent, as part of our Operational Imperatives, to pursue collaborative combat aircraft. Now, following the enactment of the fiscal year 2024 budget, we're exercising option awards to two companies to construct production representative test articles. The progress we've made is a testament to the invaluable collaboration with industry, whose investment alongside the Air Force has propelled this initiative forward. It's truly encouraging to witness the rapid execution of this program," said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.

The CCA program is part of the Next Generation Air Dominance Family of Systems, which is a DAF effort to equip the force with crewed and uncrewed platforms that can meet the pacing challenge.

"We executed an acquisition and funding strategy for CCA with early operator, technologist, acquirer, and industry teaming to quickly iterate requirements given our fielding timelines. Continuous competition is a cornerstone at every stage of this program. The transparency and teamwork between industry and government really accelerated how quickly we could mature the CCA program," Kendall said.'

"As we navigate the next phase of CCA development, our collaboration with both current and potential industry partners remains pivotal. Their expertise, innovation, and resources are instrumental in driving this initiative forward, ensuring its success and impact on future operations," said Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Andrew Hunter.

The DAF is on track to make a competitive production decision for the first increment of CCA in fiscal year 2026 and field a fully operational capability before the end of the decade. The DAF's option exercise decision does not exclude any of the vendors from competing for the future Increment 1 production contract.

The DAF is exploring international partnerships, to include potential Foreign Military Sales, as part of the CCA program. These partnerships will help provide further affordable mass at scale while driving horizontal integration and interoperability across our international partnerships.

Planning for CCA Increment 2 development is also ongoing, with initial activities starting later this year. All current and potential future industry partners from the CCA vendor pool will compete for this follow-on effort.

The CCA program aims to deliver at least 1,000 CCAs, prioritizing cost-effective scalability. With air superiority pivotal to America's military dominance for more than 70 years, CCA offers expanded fighter capacity (affordable mass) at reduced costs and adaptable timelines.

Source: U.S. Air Force
Associated URL: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3754980/air-force-exercises-two-collaborative-combat-aircraft-option-awards/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CJust%20over%20two%20years%20ago,construct%20production%20representative%20test%20articles.

WASHINGTON - Torch Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $17.4 million modification (P00167) to contract W31P4Q-21-F-0038 to provide full life cycle support for high fidelity system simulators.

Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2024. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Source: U.S. DoD
Associated URL: http://www.defenselink.gov

WASHINGTON - The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Netherlands of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles -Extended Range. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has already delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy 265 AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles - Extended Range (AARGM-ER) All Up Rounds (AUR) (includes 15 Fly-to-Buy Rounds); eight AGM-88G AARGM-ER Guidance Sections (spares); and eight AGM-88G AARGM-ER Control Sections (spares). Along wth other equipment and services, this deal has an estimated total cost of $700 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve the Netherlands' capability to meet current and future threats by suppressing and destroying land or sea-land based radar emitters associated with enemy air defenses. This capability denies the adversary the use of its air defense systems, thereby improving the survivability of the Netherlands tactical aircraft.

The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Systems located in Falls Church, VA.

Source: DSCA
Associated URL: https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/netherlands-advanced-anti-radiation-guided-missiles-extended-range