(DEFENCE)
Airbus Australia Pacific has had its through life support (TLS) arrangement for the RAAF’s Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules extended by two years to 2024.
Located at RAAF Richmond west of Sydney, the TLS contract is structured as a six-year rolling agreement and has been held by Airbus since 2009.
“I wish to thank our employees for their special contribution to enabling this achievement,” Acting Managing Director, Airbus Australia Pacific, Rob Elder said in a statement. “The C-130J TLS Contract Extension is the best recognition we can receive from our customer, and will ensure long-term employment opportunities for our people in the technical and professional disciplines as we support the C-130J to fly, to succeed and to come home safely, every time.”
Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the contract extension was granted after Airbus provided outstanding sustainment support to the C-130J fleet.
“Airbus reduced sustainment costs by $10 million over the 2019 to 2024 period,” he said. “The contract extension out to 2024 will secure the ongoing employment of approximately 220 industry personnel, located at RAAF Base Richmond.”
The RAAF has operated 12 C-130J-30s from Richmond since 1999.
(DEFENCE)