CAS Joint Program Office F-35 Chase FJ Follow-On 2027-August (C)
Past Recompete Updated
- Agency
-
Navy NAVAIR Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Patuxent River
Naval Air Warfare Center, Department of Defense
- Solicitation expected
- Estimated value
- $50,000,000 to $100,000,000
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Forecast facts
- Incumbent contract
-
- N0042122F0816 Federal contract award held by Airborne Tactical Advantage Co LLC Ends Aug 2, 2027 · Value with all options $42,218,739
- Anticipated award
- Through
- Acquisition strategy
- Follow-on to Existing Contract
- NAICS code
- 611512 Flight Training
- Place of performance
- Pax River, MD
- Forecast number
- N00421-25-RFPREQ-TPM226-0587
Forecast details come from the Navy's Long Range Acquisition Estimates. Agencies' dates and values are estimates.
About this forecast
The Naval Air Systems Command is seeking a contractor to provide airborne chase fighter jet services in support of F-35 aircraft production, first flights, and product assurance flights, with solicitation estimated for release July 1, 2026, and award anticipated October 1, 2026. The requirement involves contractor-owned, contractor-operated aircraft performing critical chase operations and operational and acceptance testing in live flight environments at Fort Worth Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Texas, to preserve the service life of operational F-35 assets while supporting safety and operational test requirements.
The estimated award value is between $50 million and $100 million, with a 60-month period of performance under a single-award indefinite-delivery contract at fixed-price terms. Work is performed at 47123 Buse Rd #540, Patuxent River, Maryland 20670, with the contracting office identified as NAWCAD PAX (N00421). Personnel and facilities must maintain Secret-level security clearances.
The recompeted award is delivery order FA489020D0002-N0042122F0816, originally awarded August 3, 2022, to Airborne Tactical Advantage Co LLC (ATAC), a Textron Inc. subsidiary, with a ceiling value of $42.2 million and ultimate completion date of August 2, 2027. ATAC performed tactical airborne services and aviation support solutions under the larger Combat Air Force Contracted Air Support Operations IDIQ vehicle, delivering fighter jet operations, adversary air simulation, and tactical training support for Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force missions.
Forecast text
The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) has an enduring requirement for Airborne Chase Fighter Jet Services to support ongoing F-35 production efforts. This requirement involves the use of Contractor Owned, Contractor Operated (COCO) aircraft to perform critical chase operations in support of first flights and product assurance flights for F-35 aircraft at Fort Worth Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB), Texas (NFW). These airborne chase operations are essential for conducting operational and acceptance testing in live flight environments. To preserve the service life of operational F-35 aircraft—assets critical to mission readiness, the JPO continues to pursue Contracted Air Services (CAS) as the most effective and efficient solution. This approach provides a dual benefit: ensuring required safety and operational test support while avoiding the unnecessary expenditure of fleet aircraft fatigue life.
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