NASA Acquires Classified Boeing 737 Jet From Air Force

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center has announced its intent to award a sole-source contract to Denmar Technical Services, Inc., to prepare a Boeing 737-73W aircraft for use as a "Reduced Gravity Test Bed." The initiative is part of the agency’s broader efforts to support the Artemis moon program, specifically focusing on validation testing of next-generation spacesuits.

The contract has a maximum potential value of $8.4 million and carries a period of performance from June 1 to October 1, covering a comprehensive scope of work. Denmar Technical Services is tasked with conducting a feasibility assessment of the aircraft, performing overdue maintenance and airworthiness restoration, executing necessary cabin modifications for reduced-gravity operations, and applying NASA exterior branding.

According to official procurement documentation, the decision to pursue a sole-source contract is based on the aircraft's unique status. The Boeing 737-73W is owned by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Denmar Technical Services, Inc. has specialized knowledge of the Boeing 737-73W aircraft, as it is currently contracted by the USAF to modify the aircraft under a “classified military program.”

NASA officials stated that because these modifications are classified, the agency lacks the "need to know" required to disclose the aircraft’s current technical configuration to a third-party contractor. Consequently, Denmar is uniquely positioned to perform the transition work, as they currently possess the specialized knowledge of the aircraft’s airworthiness status.

“Pursuing a competitive approach would cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements,” a contract document noted, emphasizing that the project must be completed by October to stay aligned with the schedule for NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program.

NASA issued a solicitation notice in April to determine if other entities could meet the technical and security requirements. While one firm, Reduced Gravity Solutions Inc., responded to the notice, NASA’s technical team concluded that the entity did not demonstrate the necessary capability to execute the maintenance and modification requirements for this specific USAF-owned aircraft.

As the agency moves toward the October deadline, it has indicated it will continue to monitor the market for alternative solutions for future requirements. Once the closeout tasks and NASA-specific modifications are finalized, ownership of the aircraft will officially transfer from the Air Force to NASA, enabling its use to test hardware vital to future lunar and deep-space exploration.