Textron Systems Subsidiary ATAC Secures F-16 Chase Flight Support Services Contract for the U.S. Air Force
Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a subsidiary of Textron Systems, has announced that it has received its first task order under the U.S. Air Force’s Combat Air Forces Contracted Air Support indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) framework. The contract, valued at up to $7.82 million, covers a period of up to 27 months.
Under the new agreement, ATAC will provide chase flight support services related to F-16 aircraft to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). Missions will be carried out at Donaldson Field in South Carolina. Operations are scheduled to begin in August 2025 and are expected to continue for approximately two years, including both the base contract period and potential option years.
Strategically Significant Operations
The contract involves ATAC providing contractor-owned and contractor-operated aircraft to support the U.S. Air Force’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) team. The primary mission is to position ATAC aircraft as chase planes during initial F-16 flights and subsequent product assurance sorties.
This collaboration marks ATAC’s second contract in the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) domain, highlighting the company’s strategic growth not only in adversary air training missions but also in specialised test support roles.
“Strengthening Our Leadership Position”
Scott Stacy, ATAC’s Senior Vice President, emphasised the company’s leadership in the contracted air services sector, stating:
“ATAC is the industry leader in chase flight and adversary air training services. To date, we have flown more than 105,000 hours with a fleet of over 100 aircraft. We now support chase and target flight operations for the F-16s in Greenville and the F-35 programme at the Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. We are proud to be working on these critical programmes with PMA-226, DCMA, the Air Force and the Navy.”
Stacy added that such collaborations help ensure U.S. pilots gain a decisive global advantage through advanced readiness and proven aircraft capabilities.
