Army awards mission systems flying test bed contract

The Army last week awarded a $15 million contract for a mission systems flying test bed, which comes in response to a broad agency announcement from earlier this year.

Sierra Nevada Corp., based in Sparks, NV, was awarded a $15 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract for a mission systems flying test bed on Oct. 20, according to a Defense Department announcement.

The broad agency announcement, released in March, called for the fielding of a mission systems flying test bed on the Army’s future vertical lift platforms. It will use air vehicle digital backbones, automated software integration and mission system software, the notice stated. At the time of the announcement, the Army said as many as six contracts could be awarded.

Lt. Col. Christina Wright, a spokeswoman for Army Contracting Command, confirmed to Inside Defense this week that the Oct. 20 contract is related to the March BAA. However, Army officials didn't have additional details about the contract.

Sierra Nevada spokeswoman Elizabeth Hogue told Inside Defense Wednesday that the company is unable to provide additional details due to “contract restrictions.”