US contractor awarded £650m RAF contract

A US contractor has been awarded a £650 million repair contract for the UK's fleet of seven airborne early warning and control aircraft, it has been announced today.

Subject to final contract award, Northrop Grumman is positioned to undertake contractual maintenance and repair of the Sentry fleet, and ensure that the aircraft's operational availability is increased.

Under Northrop Grumman's bid for the contract, major aspects of the support programme would be subcontracted to British companies, BAE Systems and FR Aviation, together with AAR Corporation.

The Sentry aircraft gives "vital strategic support" to the armed forces in theatres of operation around the world. Under the upcoming Sentry future support programme, the costs of supporting Sentry will be reduced by 10% over 20 years and more aircraft will be ready to fly, more of the time, the MoD said.

Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Bach said: "Today's announcement is an important milestone on the road to a vital contract award. Sentry is an outstanding aircraft and improving the way it is supported and maintained in future will enable us to maximise its activity in theatre and increase its availability for operations."

Sentry E-3D is one of the UK's principal Integrated Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) assets. The RAF operates seven Boeing 707-based Sentry aircraft at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire in an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) role. Since its introduction into service in 1992, the aircraft has been used in every major UK operation, seeing extensive use in campaigns in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

As part of the Sentry Future Support programme, the successful contractor will establish an integrated facility at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire to conduct aircraft scheduled maintenance, spares delivery and design authority services.

Subject to final negotiations, MoD expects to award the contract in early 2005.

(gmcg)