New F-15 officially unveiled

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Military personnel and leaders got a glimpse of the F-15EX Eagle II on Wednesday at a ceremony celebrating the arrival of the Air Force’s newest fighter jet. The rollout of the new aircraft comes as older F-15 jets become outdated, many outflying their recommended lifespan, according to military officials. F-15EXs will be tested at Eglin to ensure the jets are combat-ready before being mass-produced. The Air Force will acquire up to 144 of the Boeing F-15EXs to replace F-15C/D models. (Source: WKRG-TV, 04/07/21) Previous

Contract: Speegle Construction, $22.1M

Speegle Construction Inc., Niceville, Fla., was awarded a $22,149,338 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of the second phase of the Australia, Canada, United Kingdom Reprogramming Laboratory Facility at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base with an estimated completion date of June 27, 2023. Fiscal 2021 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $22,149,338 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-21-C-0011). (Source: DoD, 04/08/21)

FAA approves airport switch

MOBILE, Ala. - The Federal Aviation Administration has approved shifting commercial air service from Mobile Regional Airport in west Mobile to the Mobile Downtown Airport at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. The Mobile Airport Authority (MAA) announced Tuesday that the FAA had approved its 20-year master plan for development, which includes the airport swap. The FAA approval was critical for the project to receive future FAA funding. The MAA already has established a small terminal at Brookley, designed to service budget carriers. Moving all Mobile’s commercial passenger carriers to Brookley will require the construction of a new terminal and additional work. The MAA says phase I work will include a new terminal that will be slightly smaller than Mobile Regional Airport’s terminal, at 130,000 square feet, but will have features that will allow it to qualify as an international terminal. Phase 1 also will include a parking garage, additional parking lots and tarmac expansion; the estimated price tag for the terminal and other features is $160 million. (Source: multiple, including al.com, WKRG-TV, Simple Flying, 04/06/21)

Second RS-25 hot fire test

RS-25 test April 6. NASA photo

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA conducted a second RS-25 single engine hot fire test April 6 as part of a new series to support the development and production of engines for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The full-duration hot fire of more than eight minutes was conducted on the A-1 Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center (SSC) in South Mississippi. It is part of a scheduled seven-test series designed to provide data for Aerojet Rocketdyne, lead contractor for the SLS engines, as it begins production of new RS-25 engines for use after the first four SLS flights. Four RS-25 engines help power SLS at launch, firing simultaneously to generate a combined 1.6 million pounds of thrust at launch and 2 million pounds of thrust during ascent. The RS-25 engines for the first four SLS flights are upgraded space shuttle main engines and have completed certification testing. During the new test series, operators will focus on evaluating new engine components and reducing risk in engine operation. (Source: NASA/SSC, 04/06/21)

Contract: Oasis Systems, $543.3M

Oasis Systems LLC, Burlington, Mass., has been awarded a $543,266,729 task order for advisory and assistance services for the 96th Cyberspace Test Group located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2026. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds are being used with no funds being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-22-F-1002). (Source: DoD, 04/06/21)

Contract: Torch, $475M

Torch Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $474,992,283 task order for advisory and assistance services for the tenant organization of the 96th Test Wing located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2026. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition and four offers were received Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds are being used with no funds being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-22-F-1001). (Source: DoD, 04/06/21)

Contract: CQ JV, $213.6M

CQ JV LLC, Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $213,611,520 task order for advisory and assistance services for the 96th Test Wing located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2026. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds are being used with no funds being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-22-F-1004). (Source: DoD, 04/06/21)

Contract: CQ JV, $200.2M

CQ JV LLC, Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $200,214,805 task order for advisory and assistance services for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex located at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2026. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds are being used with no funds being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2486-22-F-1005). (Source: DoD, 04/06/21)

Contract: Gauss, $86.6M

Gauss Management Research And Engineering Inc., South Ogden, Utah, has been awarded a $86,617,493 task order for advisory and assistance services for the 412th Test Wing located at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2026. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds are being used with no funds being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2486-22-F-1003). (Source: DoD, 04/06/21)

Contract: Multiple, $249M

Native Technology Solutions LLC, Lorton, Va. (W91278-21-D-0001); Knight Architects Inc., Atlanta, Ga. (W91278-21-D-0002); Raymond Pond Enterprise Solutions JV LLC, Conyers, Ga. (W91278-21-D-0003); Schmidt-Prime Group LLC, Pensacola, Fla. (W91278-21-D-0004); Pond-Tetra Tech JV LP, Peachtree Corners, Ga. (W91278-21-D-0011); Bullock Tice Associates Inc., Pensacola, Fla. (W91278-21-D-0005); Cems-Rs&H JV, Summerville, S.C. (W91278-21-D-0006); G.M. Hill Engineering Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. (W91278-21-D-0007); Ilsi-Arcadis Small Business Joint Venture LLC, New Orleans, La. (W91278-21-D-0008); Leo A. Daly Co., Atlanta, Ga. (W91278-21-D-0009); Merrick & Co., Greenwood Village, Colo. (W91278-21-D-0010); Prime Ae/Stanley JV LLC, Baltimore, Md. (W91278-21-D-0012); Aecom Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, Calif. (W91278-21-D-0013); Arcadis-Exp Federal JV, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (W91278-21-D-0014); Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc., Kansas City, Mo. (W91278-21-D-0015); and Jacobs Government Services Co., Englewood, Colo. (W91278-21-D-0016), will compete for each order of a $249,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 75 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 5, 2026. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/06/21)

Contract: Raytheon, $79.4M

Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $79,398,158 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Small Diameter Bomb Increment II lot integration and test. This contract effort will deliver all-up round (AUR) test vehicles, perform AUR-level assembly, checkout, testing and systems integration testing; and prepare for production cut-in and fielding for the multiple engineering changes needed, including National Security Agency (NSA) cryptographic modernization, Global Positioning System (GPS) military code, mitigation of part obsolescence, and design changes evolving from production and/or operations. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed April 1, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 Air Force (USAF) missile procurement funds in the amount of $11,977,567; fiscal 2020 USAF research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds in the amount of $6,495,714; fiscal 2021 Navy (USN) RDT&E funds in the amount of $5,133,243; fiscal 2021 USN weapon procurement funds in the amount of $2,783,878; and fiscal 2019 Special Defense Acquisition Funds in the amount of $9,021,596 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8672-21-F-6052) (Source: DoD, 04/02/21)

F-15EX delivered to Eglin

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A new F-15EX on March 11 flew from Boeing’s facility in St. Louis to Eglin Air Force Base alongside two older models, the F-15C jet fighter that it will replace, and F-15E jet fighter-bomber. The new warplane will join a testing and evaluation squadron at Eglin. Eglin is home to the 53rd and 96th Test Wings, both of which already operate the F-15 series of fighters. The two wings will complete the F-15EX’s developmental and operational testing simultaneously. The first F-15EX, known as EX1, will go to the 96th Test Wing’s 40th Flight Test Fighter Squadron. The second F-15EX, EX2, will go to the 53rd Wing’s 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (Source: Military and Aerospace Electronics, 03/31/21) Previous

Contract: Raytheon, $72.7M

Raytheon Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is awarded a $72,676,540 fixed-price-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N0001921F0325) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001917G0005). This order provides non-recurring engineering for early identification, development, and qualification of corrections to operational issues, to include safety, reliability, maintainability issues identified through fleet usage. Additionally, this order provides continued engine maturation; evaluations of component life limits based on operational experience; improvements to operational readiness; and reduction of maintenance and life cycle costs in support of the F-35 Lighting II Program Propulsion system - F135 component improvement program. Work will be performed in East Hartford (85%); and Indianapolis, Ind. (15%), and is expected to be completed in September 2027. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,000,000; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of 10,953,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/31/21) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: Lockheed, $7.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $7,842,572 modification (P00012) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N0001920C0037). This modification exercises options to provide deficiency investigations and corrections to the fielded Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) Development Labs and development of capabilities to be added to the ALIS in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,727,250; fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $1,727,249; fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $1,486,191; fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,486,190; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $1,415,693 will be obligated at time of award, $3,454,499 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/31/21) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: Global Connections, $67.9M

Global Connections to Employment, Pensacola, Fla., was awarded a $67,894,270 firm-fixed-price contract for dining facility attendant services at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2026. U.S. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124J-21-D-0003). (Source: DoD, 03/31/21)

NAS Pensacola, Whiting honored

The NAS Pensacola and NAS Whiting Field Community, home to Naval Station Pensacola and Naval Air Station Whiting Field but counted as one community, is one of five communities nationwide named to the 2021 Class of Great American Defense Communities. The Association of Defense Communities (ADC) made the announcement in conjunction with USAA, the program’s official sponsor. The communities recognized by the program demonstrate exemplary work in improving the quality of life of military personnel and their families through programs, initiatives and partnerships in their regions. The 2021 class also includes Altus, Oklahoma; Coastal Georgia; Everett, Washington; and Great Falls, Montana. The program is in its sixth year. Communities are chosen through a competitive nomination process based on community building and integration, support and collaboration, and educational and employment opportunities, and family support. This year, diversity and inclusion initiatives and COVID-19 programs were taken into consideration. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 03/30/21)

Tyndall will get three F-35 squadrons

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Three new long-promised F-35 squadrons are officially coming to Tyndall Air Force Base following base redesigns underway since Hurricane Michael in 2018. According to an Air Force press release on Monday, a record of decision was issued by the Air Force to make Tyndall the site of three new squadrons of the F-35. The first set of F-35s will arrive in September 2023. Each squadron will have 24 Joint Strike Fighters, totaling 72 aircraft assigned to Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing once full mission capability is achieved. Tyndall was selected in part for infrastructure capability, airspace, and quality of life for airmen, the press release stated. Tyndall is part of the Gulf Range Complex, which is part of 130,000 square miles of training airspace over the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the few ranges in the U.S. capable of supporting large-scale air combat training, officials wrote. Direct access to this range is essential for fifth-generation fighter readiness and for live-fire testing and training.(Sources: multiple, including WMBB, 03/29/21, Destin Log, 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 03/30/21) To the west of Tyndall, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is a center for F-35 training and is home to reprogramming labs. Previous

Relativity on track for summer test

Relativity Space is on track to ship the second stage of its 3D-printed rocket to Stennis Space Center, Miss. for testing this summer. The California-based company was founded with the goal of using 3D printing to manufacture pretty much the entirety of a small rocket. Whether it will ultimately be successful getting into space has yet to be seen, but the company's 3D printing technology does seem to be working. In an interview with Ars Technica, Relativity CEO Tim Ellis said the company recently printed the second stage that will be used on the inaugural flight of the Terran 1 rocket, right now scheduled before the end of 2021. The stage was printed at a rate of about 1 linear foot per day, so in printer time it took about three weeks in total to produce the 20-foot tall second stage. "We're now confident in this build process," Ellis said. "Not only is the second stage now completed, but we're 75 percent of the way through printing the rocket's first stage." With the printing complete, the company has begun installing an Aeon vacuum engine, avionics, and a separation system for the first stage. Assuming a successful test campaign in Mississippi, the stage will then be moved to Florida, where it will be integrated with the first stage for launch. There will be no payload with the first launch, but the second will carry a payload for NASA. With a maximum capacity of 1.25 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, the Terran 1 rocket has a base price of $12 million. It will slot into an increasingly competitive market for small launch vehicles. (Source: Ars Technica, 03/24/21) For a story on Relativity at Stennis Space Center, see page 3, Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor Newsletter, June 2020.

Soldier dies at Eglin

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A soldier died while undergoing Ranger training at Eglin Air Force Base, according to a Friday news release from the Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Ga. Spc. James A. Requenez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas, died during the swamp phase of Ranger training at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base at Camp James E. Rudder southwest of Crestview. According to an Army news release, Requenez died during training and was taken to the Eglin hospital, where he was pronounced dead Thursday. (Sources: multiple, including Northwest Florida Daily News, WEAR-TV, 03/26/21)

Robot dogs patrol Tyndall

Working dog Sunny, Q-UGV. Air Force photo

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Semi-autonomous robot dogs were delivered to Tyndall Air Force Base on March 22 for integration into the 325th Security Forces Squadron. The purpose of the Quad-legged Unmanned Ground Vehicles (Q-UGVs) is to add an extra level of protection to the base. The robot dogs, designed by Ghost Robotics and Immersive Wisdom, are the first of their kind to be integrated onto a military installation and one of many innovation-based initiatives to begin at Tyndall. “As a mobile sensor platform, the Q-UGVs will significantly increase situational awareness for defenders,” said Mark Shackley, Tyndall Program Management Office security forces program manager. “They can patrol the remote areas of a base while defenders can continue to patrol and monitor other critical areas of an installation.” The robot dogs can navigate difficult terrain, operate in minus 40-degree to 131-degree conditions and have 14 sensors to create 360-degree awareness. They have a crouch mode that lowers their center-of-gravity and a high-step mode that alters leg mobility. Tyndall is considered an ideal base to host the new robot dogs with its ongoing rebuild. (Source: 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 03/25/21)