View Full Version : ACC CAF CAS
DuckDodgers
23rd Jul 2020, 06:48
Judging by comments from certain folk at ATAC over on LinkedIn, it would appear that Air Combat Command's (ACC) Combat Air Force (CAF) Contract Air Support (CAS) program has started to award task orders. Nothing formal as yet from the USAF, but it appears ATAC will be supporting Luke and Holloman AFBs with their ex-Armee de l'Air Mirage F1CR/CT aircraft. There are 4 other task orders due to be awarded in this round: Eglin, Kelly Field, Kingsley Field, and Seymour Johnson.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1724x792/screenshot_2020_07_23_at_07_47_13_244c12e01c9302f8125912194b c568fa70cffe46.png
AW&ST:https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/week-defense-july-29-aug-5-2020
ATAC Wins U.S. Air Force Adversary Air Contract
Starting this fall, Textron’s Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. (ATAC) will provide adversary air training for pilots at two U.S. Air Force bases.
The service notified ATAC on July 21 that it will pay the company up to a combined $240 million for adversary air training at Luke AFB, Arizona, and Holloman AFB, New Mexico, for more than 3,000 sorties per year for up to 4.5 years. The awards are part of an initial round of operating locations the service selected under the Combat Air Force (CAF) Contracted Air Support (CAS) program.... ATAC’s award covers 1,530 sorties at Luke and 1,558 at Holloman annually, according to the company. ATAC will provide a minimum of five Dassault Mirage F1 fighter aircraft at each base.....
The Air Force prioritized active detection over aircraft turn, speed and altitude when weighing requirements to support fourth-generation fighter training units at Luke and Holloman. But it considers aircraft turn, speed and altitude to be more important than passive detection.
The FAA has certified 10 ATAC aircraft, but the company is still waiting for a military flight release certification from the Air Force. The company has additional spare aircraft at its facility in Fort Worth that the Air Force can use if the F1s located at Luke or Holloman undergo extended maintenance.
The company intends to install an active, electronically scanned array radar on the F1 but would not disclose a specific variant or model, Richard Zins, business development director at ATAC, told reporters on July 27.
DuckDodgers
29th Jul 2020, 19:44
Regards the AESA, that'll be interesting. Only other radar ever installed in the F1 is the RDY-3 as part of the ASTRAC upgrade. Likely 3 gusting 4 candidates if they'e going AESA: EL/M-2052, Grifo-E, Saab PS-05mk5 or DuoTech ARES.
DuckDodgers
8th Aug 2020, 16:36
It would appear at least one company isn't happy about the recent Task Order awards.
https://www.gao.gov/docket/B-418974.1
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/898x366/screenshot_2020_08_08_at_17_35_48_3e21540ffe544b807897d2bca9 19b1e99590616b.png