USAF Command Signs Big iPad 2 Deal, Fails to Check eBay First

The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command may have canceled its big iPad buy, but plans for an even larger purchase by the branch’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) continue to move forward.

The division on Friday announced the award of a $9 million contract that could see it purchase as many as 18,000 32 gigabyte iPad 2s, at $520 apiece. Granted to computer services outfit Executive Technology, the contract is one of the military’s largest tablet purchases to date.

That said, it’s starting out small, with an initial order of 63 iPad 2s, which are to be used for testing. If they perform as expected, effectively replacing the 40 pounds of manuals and navigation charts typically carried by pilots and navigators, AMC will order more, outfitting even more flight crews with the device.

News of the purchase comes just days ahead of the expected announcement of the iPad 3.