MELBOURNE, Australia, 14 March 2009. In a changing operational landscape, there is an increased need for contractor partnerships to enhance military aircraft readiness, a Lockheed Martin official said during a briefing at the Avalon Air Show in Australia this week.
"Lockheed Martin Global Sustainment is the component of our company that helps our customers remain combat ready," says Chris Antone, vice president, Global Sustainment Business Development for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "Our customers can depend on us to provide the expertise to maintain sortie generation rates -- allowing them to accomplish their missions."
Antone added that the company's partnerships in sustainment provide military customers with enterprise support solutions to meet the numerous challenges faced through increasing operational deployments, tightening budgets, and aging weapons systems.
"To address affordability, we've developed a business model that combines our design and production experience with well-established cost competitive sustainment services," said Antone. "As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), we also offer a number of sustainment solutions to meet our customers' needs. These solutions range from modernization and upgrades to supply chain management and total life-cycle support."
The company signed a long-term agreement, as part of a partnership consisting of Australian Aerospace, Lockheed Martin and Standard Aero, to provide Total Life-Cycle Support (TLS) for the Royal Australian Air Force C-130J fleet. The partnership, called "Team Aero," will maintain the RAAF fleet with:
-- Supply chain management
-- Technical publications
-- Technical representatives
-- Incorporation of fleet upgrades
-- Engineering systems integration
-- OEM reach back
-- Propulsion support
The Commonwealth entered into contract with "Team Aero" at a signing ceremony at the Avalon Air Show Wednesday, March 11.
