Air Force Awards $980 million contract for test system support

The US Air Force has selected 33 companies, including BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, to share a $980 million contract under the Automatic Test Systems Acquisition-I (ATSA-I) programme. The agreement provides rapid support, sustainment, and lifecycle services for more than 200 test systems and subsystems that underpin $3.5 billion in integrated weapon systems.

Spanning through 2035, the contract ensures industrial involvement across the defence technology sector and includes provisions for foreign military sales. The initiative aims to maintain operational resilience, flexibility, and innovation in sustaining weapons platforms for the Air Force, Department of Defense, Air National Guard, and allied operations worldwide.

The ATSA-I programme addresses a critical need to keep test systems fully operational, enabling efficient verification and maintenance of complex weapon systems. By distributing the contract among multiple leading defence contractors, the Air Force reinforces competition, knowledge sharing, and industrial capacity across the sector.

In addition to strengthening domestic capabilities, the contract’s scope for foreign military sales supports strategic partnerships and interoperability with allied forces. The programme also contributes to long-term technological innovation in test and evaluation, a key enabler for maintaining the performance and reliability of advanced defence platforms.

This contract represents one of the largest multi-vendor sustainment initiatives in US defence procurement, reflecting the Air Force’s commitment to modernising its test infrastructure while fostering collaboration with industry leaders.

See the full article to learn how this long-term contract shapes the future of defence technology partnerships and supply chain opportunities.