Aerospace giants to team up on Air Force project

Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp. and Raytheon Co. have teamed up to produce the Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A), a plane that ultimately could replace both the AWACS air control and the Joint STARS ground surveillance aircraft.

The initial agreement with the Air Force calls for production of five of the large, complex aircraft, but the program could grow to perhaps 10 times that number.

Under the teaming arrangement, announced at a suburban Washington news conference, Boeing will provide its twin-jet 767-400 transport aircraft as a platform for a powerful, multifunction radar capable of finding enemy forces on the ground and detecting low-flying cruise missiles. That would be an improvement over the relatively new E-8 Joint STARS aircraft.

Northrop and Raytheon will produce the radar and electronic self-defense system and integrate it them with a Battle Management Command and Control system that will be produced under a separate contract.

The two electronic and avionics firms are competing for that second contract, which the Air Force is expected to award this fall.