Boeing Wins US Air Force Contract Worth $9.2 Bln

(RTTNews) - The US Air Force has awarded the Boeing Company (BA) a contract worth up to $9.2 billion for the Air Force's new training aircraft.

The Air Force currently plans to purchase 351 T-X aircraft, 46 simulators, and associated ground equipment to replace the Air Education and Training Command's 57-year-old fleet of T-38C Talons.

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract allows the Air Force to purchase up to 475 aircraft and 120 simulators.

"This new aircraft will provide the advanced training capabilities we need to increase the lethality and effectiveness of future Air Force pilots," Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said. "Through competition we will save at least $10 billion on the T-X program."

The original service cost estimate was $19.7 billion for 351 aircraft.

The first T-X aircraft and simulators are scheduled to arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, in 2023. All undergraduate pilot training bases, including Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Sheppard AFB, Texas and Vance AFB, Oklahoma, will eventually transition from the T-38 to the T-X.

An initial delivery order for $813 million provides for the engineering and manufacturing development of the first five aircraft and seven simulators.

Early this week, Boeing secured a deal with the Pentagon worth up to $2.4 billion to provide helicopters for protecting nuclear-missile bases.