Boeing Wins Contract as RAF Moves to CH-47 Through-Life Support

Flying in Pakistan(click to view full) DID has covered the UK’s move toward broad-based “Future Contracting for Availability” maintenance partnership initiatives across its armed forces, from its E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft to its Tornado GR4 strike fighters and Harrier II V/STOL jets, Britain’s membership in the C-17 Sustainment Partnership, Raytheon’s performance-based munitions support contract for various precision weapons and missiles, etc. A contract with the Boeing Company has now added the CH-47 Chinook helicopter to that list, via a Through Life Customer Support (TLCS) contract under a non-competitive, single source strategic partnering agreement that could last up to 34 years… The contract will provide through-life support for Britain’s Mk2 and Mk2a Chinook fleet to their current planned out of service dates of 2015 and 2025 respectively, although the intention is to fund a Chinook Sustainment Programme which could extend both these dates to 2040. The initial firm price agreement of GBP 199 million ($346 million at current conversion) covers the first 5 years only, and “indicative” prices have been set for the remaining 29 years which will be finalized as the contract progresses. The UK Ministry of Defence estimates that the 34-year contract will generate savings of some GBP 170 […]