US Navy, NAVAIR, Patuxent River, MD: NAVAIR’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office met with industry leaders Oct. 26 to announce the objectives of the Navy EPX program and upcoming solicitation for competitive contract proposals for program concept development.
“It is important that we do our research, work with our industry partners, and properly define our requirements for this aircraft. We want to establish a firm foundation for this program prior to entering the technology development phase,” said Capt. Joe Rixey, Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program manager.
Previously, the Navy participated in the Aerial Common Sensor program with the Army to replace the current EP-3 aircraft until the contract was terminated in 2006.
In 2007, the Chief of Naval Operations directed the EPX program to be the EP-3 replacement, and it has been designated as one of the Navy's top five acquisition programs for 2008.
The EPX will be a manned airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting aircraft and will operate in concert with other maritime patrol and reconnaissance platforms, to include the P-8A Poseidon and BAMS – the Navy’s future Broad Area Maritime Surveillance platform.
Navy program team members intend to work with potential industry partners during the concept development stage to define program requirements and develop initial system concepts.
A broad agency announcement request for proposals from industry will be released in November with responses due in December.
The Navy plans to award multiple BAA contracts in the second quarter of FY2008.
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