The US Air Force has awarded a modified contract to Lockheed Martin for the air and space operations centre (AOC), weapon system integrator.

The AOC is a highly complex operation with up to 48 separate systems supporting diverse missions to exercise command and control of air and space power worldwide. The AOC coordinates aircraft such as F-16 fighters, refuelling tankers and attack helicopters into an integrated air campaign.

Under the $421m modified contract, Lockheed will provide fielding, sustainment, systems engineering, integration, modernisation, maintenance, management and contingency support for the AOC.

The USAF awarded the original contract to a Lockheed-led industry team. Under the multi-year contract, Lockheed has been working with the air force to standardise the AOC enterprise to a common hardware and software baseline.

The work includes integrating the 48 existing AOC systems and applications with machine to machine interfaces to provide greater automation of tasks, faster access to ISR data, enhanced battle damage assessment capabilities and greater reach into the space, ground and maritime arenas.

Hanscom Air Force Base is managing the contract activity.