# Air Force Modernizes KC-135 Cockpits

The U.S. Air Force issued the KC-135 Center Console Refresh solicitation in July 2026 and accepted offers through October 15. SNC is leading a four-company consortium that includes BAE Systems, Collins Aerospace, and GE Aerospace to replace obsolete fuel-management, display, and computing systems and add autothrottle capability. The anticipated single-award IDIQ is planned to support performance from July 2028 through June 2038; engineering and manufacturing development is planned as cost-plus-incentive-fee work, followed by firm-fixed-price production and deployment. The offer period has closed, and the signal does not report an award decision.

- The solicitation is no longer open for bids. Contractors should account for the closed October 15 submission date when assessing direct pursuit options.
- The decade-long planned performance period and transition from development to firm-fixed-price production may create opportunities for qualified suppliers and subcontractors, subject to the award and subsequent requirements.
- SNC’s consortium includes major avionics and aerospace firms, indicating an established competitive team for cockpit-system integration; potential suppliers can assess where their capabilities fit the modernization effort.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** November 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Air Force (USAF)
- Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC)

### Vendors
- SNC (Consortium lead and bidder)
- BAE Systems (Consortium member)
- Collins Aerospace (Consortium member)
- GE Aerospace (Consortium member)

### Sources
- [SNC Leads Four-Company Consortium for KC-135 Cockpit Refresh](https://www.executivebiz.com/articles/snc-bae-collins-ge-kc-135-center-console-refresh-team) - ExecutiveBiz