Boeing to modify C-130s into Combat Talon II

The U.S. Air Force last month awarded Boeing a $134 million contract to begin modifying 10 C-130 aircraft into the MC-130H Combat Talon II configuration. Deployed in 1991, the MC-130H enables the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to insert, extract and resupply forces, and deliver equipment in hostile or denied territory. The aircraft also provides air-to-air refueling of other Special Operations Forces aircraft.

"United States Special Operations Forces play a vital role in the war on terror," said Pat Finneran, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Support. "Modifying these aircraft ensures AFSOC's highly trained and rapidly deployable forces can continue to meet their worldwide commitments."

This first-phase contract is for delivery of two aircraft. A follow-on production phase with an estimated value of $446 million will deliver the remaining eight aircraft. Deliveries of the Combat Talon IIs will begin in July 2008 and continue through 2011.

Boeing inks deal with U.S. Air Force for 30,000 JDAM kits

Boeing signed a $609 million contract in late March to produce more than 30,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits for the U.S. Air Force through February 2007.

The contract, known as Lot 9, will bring the total number of JDAM tail kits built at the Weapons Enterprise Capability Center in St. Charles, Mo., to more than 150,000, since the JDAM's 1998 introduction.

The JDAM converts a conventional unguided free-fall bomb into a "smart" weapon guided by highly accurate Global Positioning Satellite navigation signals.

"We've been averaging 3,000 kits per month for several years now, and the quality of work is just phenomenal," said JDAM Production Manager Karl Bloomberg. "Considering how many we have produced, we have had very few returns, and for seven years, every kit has been delivered on time and on budget."

IDS forms new Global Strike Organization; Davis to lead

To enhance emphasis on future Global Strike initiatives and better serve its customer, Integrated Defense Systems' Air Force Systems unit has merged its Fighter and Bomber, Weapons, and Unmanned Systems groups into Air Force Systems Global Strike Solutions.

Based in St. Louis, GSS will help Boeing serve an emerging requirement in the Department of Defense for systems capable of projecting global power. GSS includes Boeing's fighter, bomber, weapons and unmanned systems programs. Darryl Davis, who had headed Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems, will lead the new organization as vice president.

Davis brings to this new position 27 years of experience, with a background in engineering, business development and program management that includes the F/A-18, AV-8B, Joint Strike Fighter and Advanced Strike Weapons Systems.

Boeing shares expertise at Women in Aviation conference

Boeing, with more than 300 employees in attendance, made its presence felt at the recent 16th annual Women in Aviation conference held in Dallas.

The yearly conference offers refresher clinics, workshops, seminars, college recruiting and networking opportunities. During the three-day event, Boeing led nine education seminars as well as its Leaning Into Aviation professional development seminar on Lean practices.

At the conference's closing dinner, Boeing awarded three scholarships—one from the company's Amelia Earhart Society—to help advance students' aviation careers.

BCA delivers 2nd 767 for Italian tanker mods

The second of four 767-200ERs for the Italian air force left the Everett, Wash., Boeing site on April 5 and flew direct to Italy for modification into a KC-767A aerial refueling tanker. Aeronavali of Italy will modify the airplane for delivery in 2007. It will also modify two others for delivery to the Italian air force through 2008.

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is modifying the first Italian tanker, which rolled out Feb. 24 and will be delivered in 2006. Italy launched the 767 tanker program in 2001.

The Japan Air Self Defense Force was the second KC-767A tanker customer. Japan's first airplane is now in production and scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2007. Subsequent deliveries will be completed by the end of 2010.

Boeing has delivered almost 2,000 tanker aircraft as well as 99 percent of all air-refueling booms ever made.

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