23rd Jan 2007 14:58
SMITHS Aerospace, part of the global technology business SmithsGroup, has been awarded a 5-year contract, with options up to anadditional 5 years, worth a potential value of $52 million. Thecontract includes performance-based logistics (PBL) support for theHercules Integrated Operation Support (HIOS) Program for C-130J/Kaircraft operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The work is takingplace at Smiths' facilities in Michigan, Florida, Ohio, New York andIllinois in the United States and in Cheltenham and Gloucester in theUnited Kingdom. £ Catherine Gridley, President, Smiths Aerospace Customer Servicessaid: "PBLs have transformed the supply chain resulting in a win-winsituation for customers and suppliers. PBL support is an integral partof our customer services business and it is an area where we plancontinued growth." £ The contract has been awarded by Lockheed Martin and supports theRoyal Air Force fleet of C-130 J/K aircraft through the year 2016. Thecontract is a significant advancement in support techniques andphilosophy. Smiths is responsible for managing the availability of allSmiths hardware manufactured both in the United States and the UnitedKingdom to support aircraft operated by the RAF. £ Smiths Aerospace was one of the first aerospace companies tointroduce PBL programs in 1997 with a program to support the RAFHercules SCNS (Self-Contained Navigation System). This was quicklyfollowed by a second RAF support PBL, this time to guarantee theavailability of LRU displays for the Tornado GR4. Smiths also has oneof the first U.S. Navy PBLs, a 15-year firm fixed price contractsigned in 1998, for the Stores Management System (SMS) on the U.S.Navy and U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18, F-14 and AV-8B aircraft. Under theprogram Smiths Aerospace manages the inventory for some 450 differentspares, along with forecasting requirements, managing unit repairs andtransportation and is responsible for managing component obsolescence.This was preceded by PBL awards last year for the F/A-18 StoresManagement System Upgrade (SMUG), for the U.S. Navy H-60 and for a10-year contract supporting the USAF's newest fighter the F-22. £ Smiths has various PBLs world-wide supporting primarily militaryaircraft in the US, UK and Australia, and recently signed a PBL withSingapore Airlines to support the A380. £ About the C-130J: The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130fleet and will replace aging C-130Es and C-130Hs. The C-130Jincorporates state-of-the-art technology to reduce manpowerrequirements, lower operating and support costs, and provideslife-cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. Compared to olderC-130s, the J model climbs faster and higher, flies farther at ahigher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance. £ Smiths Group is a global technology company, listed on the LondonStock Exchange. Smiths Group is a world leader in the practicalapplication of advanced technologies. Its products and services makethe world safer, healthier and more productive. Smiths Group has fourdivisions: Aerospace, Detection, Medical and Specialty Engineering. Itemploys 32,000 people and has more than 250 major facilities in 50countries. On 15 January 2007 Smiths Group announced the sale ofSmiths Aerospace to GE, which remains subject to regulatory andshareholder approvals. For more information visit www.smiths.com £ Smiths Aerospace is a leading transatlantic aerospace systems andequipment business, with more than 11,500 employees and $2.4 billionrevenues globally. The business holds key positions in the supplychains of all major military and civil aircraft and enginemanufacturers and is a world-leader in digital, electrical power,mechanical systems, engine components and customer services. Forfurther information visit www.smiths-aerospace.com Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
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