FA8539-26-R-0001, Letter Request for Proposal (LRFP) – E-3 DRAGON Program

support of evaluation, fault isolation, inspection, testing, repair, and packaging of the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) Replacement of Avionics for Global Operations and Navigation (DRAGON). This will be a 3 year repair effort. Projected Best Estimated Quantity (BEQ) repair requirements are:

NSN / PN Annual BEQ 5821-01-670-0751 / 822-1757-100/-110 7ea 5841-01-531-3216 / 822-1059-007 5ea 5841-01-576-3318 / 822-0615-305 5ea 5895-01-619-0503 / 822-1468-310 5ea 5985-01-459-8627 / 622-7309-101 5ea 5985-01-512-7697 / 622-5135-801 5ea 5985-01-581-2099 / 622-5137-601 5ea 5862-01-717-5973 / 822-1739-690 5ea 6610-01-717-8587 / 822-2954-002 5ea 5895-01-724-8002 / 822-1591-130 5ea DRAGON is anticipated to remain on the E-3 through the platform's retirement in 2033. AFLCMC/HBSK previously awarded ICS contract FA8730-20-C-0053 to upgrade the DRAGON program on the E-3 AWACS from a four-person flight deck to a three-person flight deck by eliminating the navigator position and incorporating a modern Flight Management System Suite (FMSS) with robust architecture.

Specifically, it consists of a modern flight management computer and large multifunction displays for flight and engine instruments. Additionally, DRAGON includes safety features such as a flight guidance system, weather radar system, terrain awareness and warning system, wind shear detection and warning system, new and supplemental upgrades to navigation and surveillance equipment, an engine indication and crew alerting system.

AFLCMC/HBSK ICS contract FA8730-20-C-0053 was for the upgrade and initial maintenance of the DRAGON. It was awarded sole source to Collins Aerospace, the OEM and approved source for almost all DRAGON NSNs, using other than full and open competition, under 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1), due to the urgency of the requirement and the unacceptable delay that competing it would have. The Government did not receive repair data for these items during the DRAGON modification.

The Government doesn't own the data or rights to the data. Collins Aerospace has become a subsidiary of RTX (Raytheon). Collins Aerospace is the only source with the repair data for these 10 NSNs, and the only source with any repair experience. The Government emailed Collins requesting if they would be willing to provide or sell the repair data to the Government, or if they have any authorized or licensed repair vendors for these NSNs.

Collins responded on 1 April 2025 that they are unwilling to provide or sell the data to the Government, they do not have any authorized or licensed repair vendors for these repairs. Collins also indicated that they are interested in submitting a proposal for this requirement when an RFP is posted, and that they'd be agreeable to adding these NSNs to Collins Corporate Contract SPE4AX-21-D-9400.