Inside the Air Force highlights

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Air Force:

1. The Air Force awarded a Boeing-Saab team a $9.2 billion contract this week to build the next-generation T-X training jet -- the company's third major defense contract in the last two months.

Full story: Boeing-Saab team wins $9.2 billion deal for T-X trainer

2. United Launch Alliance announced this week it has selected Blue Origin's BE-4 engine over Aerojet Rocketdyne's AR-1 to power its new Vulcan Centaur rocket -- the centerpiece of its proposal for the Air Force's competition to build a next-generation launch vehicle.

Full story: ULA chooses Blue Origin's BE-4 to power new Vulcan upper stage

3. Boeing and Leonardo Helicopter's MH-139 will become the next helicopter to patrol intercontinental ballistic missile fields, beating out two other bids to replace the Vietnam-era Bell UH-1N Hueys that have become a symbol of slow acquisition woes.

Full story: Boeing-led team wins $2.4 billion contract to replace UH-1N Hueys

4. The Air Force thinks it can cut between two and five years off the time line to re-engine the B-52 by using digital and virtual prototyping technology.

Full story: USAF aims to cut between two and five years off B-52 re-engine time line