The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contractor-based ‘Red Air’ training contract valued at USD6.4 billion, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 18 October.
A Top Aces Douglas A-4 Skyhawk: one of several companies and aircraft types that will participate in the USAF's Combat Air Force training contract awarded on 18 October. (IHS Markit/Gareth Jennings)
The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) Combat Air Force (CAF) adversary air (ADAIR) award is divided among seven companies, with each contracted for the provision of “complete contracted air-support services for realistic and challenging advanced adversary air threats and close-air support threats”, the DoD said.
The contracted companies are Air USA, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), Blue Air Training, Coastal Defense, Draken International, Tactical Air Support, and Top Aces.
“Work will be performed in multiple locations across the Combat Air Force and provide complete services, including but not limited to aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft systems support, pilots, aircraft maintenance, [and] support equipment, in addition to programme, quality, and contract management to meet military requirements, and is expected to be completed by 29 October 2024,” the DoD announcement said.
When the CAF ADAIR requirement was first disclosed, it was given as being a 10-year requirement for about the same value. It is unclear why the timeline has been changed to five years and why the contract value has not been reduced to reflect the truncated contract period, or if the scope of the original requirement has been altered.
The 10-year requirement originally stated covered nearly 37,000 flight hours, 140–150 fighter aircraft, and 12 or 13 different bases.
This story, first published on 21 October, has been updated with additional information.
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