U.S. Air Force selects Tempus aircraft modification, laser and sensor integration, flight testing in support of Weapons Development and Integration Directorate

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. Tempus Applied Solutions in Williamsburg, Virginia, won an approximately $1.2 million contract from the United States Air Force to provide technical aircraft modification and integration services and flight operations – including engineering and electrical modifications; integration of an ultraviolet laser, telescope, and advanced optical sensors; and flight testing – to the Weapons Development and Integration Directorate (WDID), Platform Integration Function, for aviation systems.

Tempus will integrate the U.S. Air Force’s High-Altitude LIDAR Atmospheric Sensing (HALAS) system into a modified Gulfstream IV aircraft owned by the company. The laser-equipped sensor has the capability of measuring atmospheric conditions well into the stratosphere with great precision, officials say.

Tempus will assist in the airborne testing of Air Force’s ground-proven HALAS system upon completion of the sensor integration and airframe modifications. If exercises are successful, atmospheric testing will be substantially improved, with a significant reduction in error factors from older sensing capabilities.

The contract consists of two parts: aircraft modification/integration and flight operations. Modifications will take place at Tempus' Brunswick, Maine, modification center and will consist of significant engineering and electrical modifications, including the integration of an ultraviolet laser, telescope and advanced optical sensors. Under the contract, once the aircraft modifications have been completed, 50 hours of flight operations and testing are to be conducted by Tempus in the United States and selected oceanic areas. Tempus expects the contract to generate total revenues of approximately $1.2 million.

"Tempus is looking forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on this project," says Tempus CEO Scott Terry. "This is a great opportunity to participate in a project that will provide critical insight into atmospheric conditions and its effect on next-generation aviation platforms. We hope to continue working on such programs with USAF in the future."

The contract will be executed through the course of 2017, with modifications occurring from June 2017 to September 2017 and flight operations beginning in October 2017. Assuming successful testing of the installed equipment during flight, Tempus intends to continue to offer the system for a variety of commercial and military purposes starting in 2018.

Tempus provides design, engineering, systems integration, and flight operations solutions that support critical aviation mission requirements for a variety of customers including the United States Department of Defense, other U.S. government agencies, foreign governments and select corporations and individuals in the private sector.

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