General Dynamics boosts AF maintenance program with laptops

General Dynamics Corp. will provide IT support to the Air Force Materiel Command under a three-year, $23 million contract that calls for the purchase, delivery and integration of ruggedized laptop PCs to be used as portable maintenance aids.

General Dynamics Corp. will provide IT support to the Air Force Materiel Command under a three-year, $23 million contract, the company announced today.

The award calls for General Dynamics IT to purchase, deliver and integrate ruggedized laptop PCs that will be used as portable maintenance aids by the Air Force's F-22A Integrated Maintenance Information System (IMIS).

The laptops are mobile computing devices used at the point of maintenance for technical data displays, diagnostic fault isolation, repair mentoring, material management, maintenance documentation, health monitoring, prognostics and operational data upload/download, according to the company's announcement.

The company will install each laptop PC with required software, perform functionality tests and integrate the required systems for the IMIS program, which seeks to improve aircraft maintenance by providing technicians with a single information system.

In addition, General Dynamics IT will maintain an inventory control database to track equipment shipping and returns and maintain detailed records, including warranty information.

The majority of the work will be performed in Bossier City, La., supporting Air Force bases throughout the country, including Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, and Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

General Dynamics Corp., of Falls Church, Va., ranks No. 6 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.