Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, a unit of Textron Inc., secured a task order worth up to $7.82 million to provide chase flight support services for F-16 aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales program, the company announced Aug. 18.
Photo by Cpl. Benjamin McDonald
The 27-month contract with the Defense Contract Management Agency calls for ATAC to supply contractor-owned aircraft that will fly alongside F-16s during first flights and product assurance testing at Donaldson Field in Greenville, South Carolina. Operations are scheduled to begin in August and continue for approximately two years.
Chase aircraft serve a critical safety function in military aviation testing and delivery. These support planes provide visual feedback to test pilots, document flights through photography and video, and can act as flying targets during certain test missions. When test aircraft take to the sky, they are often accompanied by chase planes that help ensure safe operations and gather essential data.
The contract represents ATAC’s second award in the research, development, test and evaluation sector, marking the company’s expansion beyond its traditional adversary air training services. ATAC currently operates a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and has accumulated over 105,000 flight hours across 30 years of operations.
“ATAC is an industry-leader in chase flight services and adversary air training services,” said Scott Stacy, ATAC Senior Vice President. “We have pioneered much of what are now contracted air services industry standards.” The company also provides chase services for F-35 aircraft flying from Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas.
ATAC operates under a contractor-owned, contractor-operated model, providing aircraft and crews to support U.S. Air Force Foreign Military Sales operations. The Foreign Military Sales program facilitates the transfer of U.S. defense equipment to international allies and partners, with F-16 aircraft representing a significant component of these transactions.
The Greenville facility has become a hub for F-16 production activities, with the chase services supporting final testing and delivery preparation for international customers. Chase planes typically accompany aircraft during critical phases of flight testing, including first flights where new or modified systems are evaluated under operational conditions.
Textron Systems, ATAC’s parent division, operates as a global leader in unmanned air, surface and land products. The broader Textron portfolio includes well-known aerospace and defense brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, and Lycoming engines.
The contracted air services industry has grown significantly as military services increasingly rely on private operators to provide specialized support capabilities. Companies like ATAC have filled roles traditionally performed by military units, offering cost-effective solutions for training, testing, and support missions.
ATAC has supported U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force training programs across multiple locations worldwide, including operations in the Continental United States, Hawaii, and the Western Pacific region. The company typically operates from as many as 25 different air bases annually.
The task order falls under the Combat Air Forces Contracted Air Services indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract, which allows for flexible ordering of services as requirements emerge. The potential $7.82 million value includes base performance periods and optional extensions that could extend the work timeline.
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