Up to $2B to Maintain & Upgrade USA’s E-4B NAOC Fleet
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Bases & Infrastructure, Boeing, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Domestic Security, L3 Communications, Other Corporation, Specialty Aircraft
(click to view full)
The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a contract as Product Support Integrator (PSI) for the USAF E-4 National Airborne Operations Center fleet. These 747-200 derivatives serve as complete flying command posts for national and military authorities, and are hardened to resist the effects of nuclear attack.
This is a five-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract vehicle with one five-year option and a $2 billion cost cap. Boeing will lead a “best of industry” team consisting of Boeing, L3 Communications, Rockwell Collins, and Greenpoint Technology Inc. to be the lead system integrator for the E-4 fleet using a total-life cycle, systems engineering approach. The goal is to provide increased readiness and integrate multiple contracts and activities into a single best-value contract.
Four E-4Bs are currently operated by the United States Air Force, and are assigned to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. One is kept on full alert at all times, and one remains relatively close to Air Force One so that the American President can access it quickly from anywhere in the world. As of 1994, the E-4 fleet will also ferry Federal Emergency Management Agency crews to natural disaster sites and serving as a temporary command post on the ground until facilities can be built on site. With E-4B support, the emergency team’s response is a matter of hours, as opposed to days.
Air Combat Command (ACC) is the Air Force single-resource manager for the E-4B, and provides aircrew, maintenance, security and communications support. The Joint Chiefs of Staff actually control E-4B operations and provide personnel for the airborne operations center.
Boeing has supported the E-4 fleet of 4 modified Boeing 747 aircraft for 25 years in the areas of contractor logistics support, engineering services and technical order support. See corporate release.
UPDATES:
Sept 21/07: Boeing announces the delivery of a refurbished E-4B National Airborne Operations Center to the U.S. Air Force Strategic Command after completing programmed depot maintenance (PDM) at its modification center in Wichita, KS.
