Leonardo and Northrop Grumman Australia have signed an agreement to partner on a bid to supply the Italian group's C-27J Spartan transport aircraft to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
The memorandum of understanding - signed on 27 February at the Avalon Airshow 2019 - is intended to meet New Zealand's requirement under its Future Air Mobility Capability (FAMC) programme.
Officials told Jane's that the agreement positions Northrop Grumman to provide through-life support services for the C-27J in service with the RNZAF. New Zealand is expected to issue a tender to support the procurement in the second half of 2019, they said.
The Leonardo-Northrop Grumman teaming will also look to leverage the existing partnership between the two companies to support the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) fleet of C-27Js, said officials.
The RAAF ordered 10 C-27Js in 2012 for AUD1.4 billion (USD1 billion). The fleet reached initial operating capability (IOC) in December 2016, and Northrop Grumman secured a AUD200 million contract to support the aircraft in November 2017, providing engineering and logistics services.
"Under this new agreement Northrop Grumman will provide support services to New Zealand in line with what they have been doing here in Australia," said one Leonardo official.
"We want to exploit the positive aspects of ongoing collaboration between Leonardo and Northrop Grumman, which may bring benefits for both New Zealand and Australia as they collaborate and undertake joint operations. A common team, supporting both countries, might be of interest to New Zealand."
He added that in supporting the C-27J in service with the RNZAF both Leonardo and Northrop Grumman would consider investing in New Zealand to develop maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capability in the country.
(Jane's)