AAR CORP. / Northrop Grumman / BAE Systems,
LONDON: AAR CORP. announced today that its Defense Systems and Logistics division has been selected as part of the Northrop Grumman team to provide aircraft-maintenance and design-engineering support services to improve availability and reduce through-life ownership costs for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force fleet of E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Northrop Grumman was selected as the Preferred Bidder by the UK Ministry of Defence in July 2004.
The Sentry Whole Life Support Programme contract is valued at approximately 665 million pounds Sterling over 20-plus years. The contract is fixed price for the first five years and target cost incentive fee for the remaining 15 years. In addition, the contract is fully funded for the entire 20-year term. As part of the Northrop Grumman team, AAR expects to generate over 12.5 million pounds Sterling annually for the duration of the contract.
Northrop Grumman's IT sector, the overall lead on the programme, will manage the maintenance schedule for the AWACS aircraft to ensure that only one aircraft, out of a fleet of seven, is in scheduled maintenance at any given time. AAR's role is to provide supply chain services, including parts procurement, distribution and repair, to help reduce costs, increase parts availability, shorten lead times and minimize downtime.
Commenting from the Sentry Whole Life Support Event at Royal Air Force Waddington, Lincolnshire, UK, David P. Storch, President and CEO of AAR CORP., said, “This contract builds upon the excellent relationship we've established with Northrop Grumman in support of the U.S. Air Force Joint STARS program. We look forward to extending our excellent service record and partnering with Northrop Grumman to support the Royal Air Force's AWACS modernization programme.” dt
The Sentry is the United Kingdom's principal early warning and control aircraft and gives vital strategic support to the UK armed forces in operations around the world. The Royal Air Force operates seven of the Boeing 707-based aircraft at RAF Waddington and the contract supports the aircraft through the out-of-service date, which will be in the mid 2020s.
AAR Defense Systems and Logistics currently works with Northrop Grumman to provide supply chain management services to support the U.S. Air Force Joint STARS program and earned Northrop Grumman's Operation Enduring Freedom Award for 100 percent on-time support of 254 successful JSTARS deployments.
Northrop Grumman Signs Contract with United Kingdom for E-3D AWACS Support Programme Valued at Approximately GBP 665 Million
MCLEAN: Northrop Grumman Corporation has signed the contract to provide aircraft-maintenance and design-engineering support services to improve availability and reduce through-life ownership costs for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force fleet of E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Northrop Grumman was selected as the Preferred Bidder by the UK Ministry of Defence in July 2004.
The Sentry Whole Life Support Programme contract is valued at approximately GBP 665 million over 20-plus years. The contract is a fixed-price contract for the first five years and the remaining 15 years the contract is target cost incentive fee. In addition, the contract is fully funded for the entire 20-year term.
“This contract provides an excellent opportunity for Northrop Grumman, in partnership with the United Kingdom, to apply our supply-chain management expertise to help support the Royal Air Force's AWACS modernization programme,” said James O'Neill, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector. “The collaborative efforts of four Northrop Grumman operating sectors have been integrated to provide a total systems solution for this important customer.”
Northrop Grumman's IT sector, the overall lead on the programme, will support the maintenance schedule for AWACS aircraft, ensuring that only one aircraft, out of a fleet of seven, is in scheduled maintenance at any given time. The IT sector will also provide systems integration, programme management and the information technology infrastructure. The contract also includes repairs of structural parts and inventory upkeep, support of design engineering, maintenance training, and conversion and management of technical publications in an electronic format.
Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector, with its experience with the US Air Force's Joint STARS Total System Support Responsibility Program, will have engineering-support responsibility and design authority for AWACS. The company's Electronic Systems sector will provide radar capabilities while Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector will offer highly sophisticated, interactive, electronic technical-manual support.
The Sentry is the United Kingdom's principal early warning and control aircraft and gives vital strategic support to the UK armed forces in operations around the world. The Royal Air Force operates seven of the Boeing 707-based aircraft at Royal Air Force Waddington, Lincolnshire, UK and the contract supports the aircraft through the out-of-service date, which will be in the mid 2020s.
The contract will employ approximately 165 people, with about 145 in the United Kingdom. Work on the programme will be performed at Royal Air Force Waddington.
Northrop Grumman teammates include AAR CORP., Wood Dale, Ill.; BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire, UK; and FR Aviation, Christchurch, Dorset, UK.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 125,000 employees, and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves US and international military, government and commercial customers.
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