Contractors refine work on Air Force C2 subsystem

The Air Force has chosen three contractors to compete to develop the Battle Management Command and Control subsystem for the agency's new $60 billion E-10A Multisensor C2 aircraft.

Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. each won a $4 million contract to refine their proposed architectures for the BMC2 subsystem. The vendors must submit their proposals by February.

The Air Force will select one contractor in April to develop the subsystem under a $400 million contract.

The E-10A will provide the Air Force with next-generation cruise missile defense and airborne ground surveillance and targeting capabilities. The BMC2 subsystem must collect, integrate and distribute sensor data collected by the aircraft's Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program radar and other Air Force C2 sensors.

Dawn S. Onley writes for Government Computer News magazine.