The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has awarded a $165 million firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to Mercury Systems for secure flight data recorders in support of the Secure Mission Data Systems (SMDS) on the service’s F-16 fleet. The contract includes an initial order worth $16.4 million and has a 72-month planned performance and shipment period.
These flight data recorders will help improve performance, security and reliability for the F-16’s current and future mission needs.
“Our defense customers are looking for solutions that minimize cost, reduce program risk and deliver proven performance and reliability,” said Brian Perry, EVP and president, Mercury Processing. “As an independent domestic supplier of key defense-grade microelectronics, they depend on us to provide the purpose-built technology they need to meet their challenges, and we look forward to working as a trusted partner to deliver systems that protect individuals and communities around the world.”
Mercury’s solution merges two systems into one. This unique value allowed the Department of Defense to proceed without modification to any existing software on the F-16, while significantly advancing system functionality. The new solution also provides open system architecture elements aligned to the government’s open systems mandate that offer a growth path to address future mission needs quickly and cost-effectively.
