The U.S. Air Force has allocated a sum of $9.36 million to purchase up to 18,000 Apple iPads, reports Bloomberg. These iPads will replace the paper manuals and navigation charts used by pilots and navigators.
The tablet replacement will help Aircrews operate more effectively and safely, and support the Pentagon’s efficiency goals, an Air Force spokeswoman, said.
“Aircrews fly nonstop worldwide missions and require access to flight publications both on and off the aircraft, throughout all phases of flight,” an Air Force spokeswoman, said. The “electronic flight bags” will help crews operate more effectively and safely, and support the Pentagon’s efficiency goals. The contract calls for 32GB Wi-Fi iPads, which normally retail for $599. The Air Force, however, will purchase them at a discount of about $520 per device. As many as 18,000 devices can be purchased within a year of the contract award date, which was this past Thursday. “That doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll purchase all 18,000,” she said. “It’s contingent upon funding requests and approval.”
The particular iPad ordered by the U.S. Airforce is a Wifi-only model with 32GB of storage and is said to retail at $599 but the Airforce will be getting at a discount of about $520 per device.
via [Bloomberg]