BAE Systems Australia and Lockheed Martin have signed an MoU which may lead to BAE being selected to conduct in-service support for the RAAF’s fleet of up to 100 F-35A JSFs when they enter service later this decade.
The MoU was signed by the director of aerospace for BAE Systems Australia, John Monaghan, and by Lockheed Martin’s VP global industrial integration, Bob Bolz, at BAE’s Williamtown facility on June 18.
“The first and fundamental element of the agreement is we have selected BAE Australia to be what we call a competitive strategic source for maintenance repair overhaul and upgrade of F-35 aircraft for Australia, with additional opportunities to come subsequently for other areas of the sustainment operations to support the RAAF,” said Bolz.
“Leveraging our capability at Williamtown will reduce the transition risk and cost of introducing the F-35 aircraft into service in Australia from 2018,” Monaghan said.
BAE currently conducts minor and major servicing of the RAAF’s fleet of Hawk 127 lead-in fighters and F/A-18A/B Hornets at Williamtown.
