USAF favours Lockheed for follow-on Raptor sustainment
The USAF has earmarked Lockheed Martin to provide sole-source lead integrator services for future modernisation of the F-22A Raptor.
A presolicitation notice for the Advanced Raptor Enhancement & Sustainment (ARES) programme was published on 19 August, with a 3 September deadline for Lockheed Martin to respond.
ARES will encompass enterprise management; studies, analyses and demonstration projects; modernisation hardware development and procurement; test force and system laboratory support; and flight software modernisation and sustainment.
The proposed contract is a follow-on effort to the Raptor Enhancement, Development, and Integration II (REDI II) contract and will satisfy future modernisation requirements, enterprise management, and selected sustainment requirements to improve efficiencies within the F-22 programme.
‘It is contemplated that the ID/IQ [indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) contract will be awarded by June 2021 with a base ordering period of 5 years and a 5 year option,’ the USAF noted.
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