Boeing Wins Contract as RAF Moves to CH-47 Through-Life Support
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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 million over its lifetime, compared with current support arrangements. Read the full release.
Britain’s 40 CH-47 Chinook helicopters are the largest fleet outside the US Army, and have been active in recent relief efforts around Pakistan and Kashmir. Efforts are currently underway to prepare them for Britain’s Afghanistan deployment, where they’ll work with some new companion assets on the ground and in the air.
Updates
Jan 6/09: Boeing Defence UK Ltd. announces the establishment of Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support, a division of Integrated Defense Systems that will focus on Boeing’s rotorcraft support business in the United Kingdom. The new organization includes the Apache Integrated Operational Support program and the Chinook Through Life Customer Support program.
November 2008: The Chinook Through Life Customer Support program, receives the Chief of Defence Materiel Commendation award.
