Boeing strengthens sovereign capability with RUAG MRO contract
Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) is supporting the growth of Australia’s sovereign aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capability with the signing of a component repair framework contract with RUAG Australia (RUAG).
Under the contract with BDA’s Air Combat Electronic Attack Sustainment (ACEAS) program, RUAG will perform enhanced intermediate-level repairs on an initial three components for F/A-18F and EA-18G Growler aircraft, with the potential to increase that number.
The items, including the main and nose wheel hubs and a component from the environmental control system, are currently repaired in the U.S. through the U.S. Navy’s Foreign Military Sale program.
“This contract is an important step in building resilience into Australia’s Super Hornet and Growler supply chains and demonstrates Australian industry’s ability to develop innovative solutions for our customers,” said BDA’s ACEAS Program Manager, Chris Gray.
“Furthermore, it supports efforts by the AUSMIN Defence Acquisition Committee’s MRO Logistics Working Group to secure more local and international MRO work for Australian industry by demonstrating that our MRO sector can augment existing supply chains.”
The contract signing follows RUAG’s recent success at becoming the first Australian company to be accredited to repair E-7A Wedgetail Air Cycle Machines.
“RUAG is a proven partner across many Boeing programs and we’re excited at the potential for the ACEAS contract and Wedgetail accreditation to bolster their presence in international supply chains,” said Gray.
According to RUAG Australia’s General Manger Terry Miles, the contract is an important next step in the 19-year industry partnership between the two companies.
“This is a significant achievement towards using in-country sovereign capability to support Boeing and the F/A-18F and EA-18G platforms for the Royal Australian Air Force.”
Boeing Defence Australia is a leading provider of military platform sustainment services and is contracted to sustain the largest number of Australian Defence Force aircraft types: the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, C-17A Globemaster, P-8A Poseidon, E-7A Wedgetail, CH-47F Chinook, EC-135 training helicopter and the soon-to-be-introduced AH-64E Apache.