BAE Systems Australia has secured a new F-35 Air Vehicle Support Services (AVSS) contract to establish sovereign maintenance and supply-chain support for the Australian fleet at RAAF Bases Williamtown in New South Wales and Tindal in the Northern Territory.
“We are delighted to build on our contribution to the global F-35 program with this additional support for the RAAF," BAE Systems Australia Managing Director, Defence Delivery, Andrew Gresham, said. "We will be leveraging our years of experience in fast jet sustainment working side by side with the RAAF to deliver aircraft availability and capability requirements.”
BAE Systems has provided fast jet maintenance and upgrades to RAAF aircraft from its Williamtown facility for almost three decades.
The new AVSS contract will employ 46 BAE Systems Australia staff, providing direct, on-the-ground support to RAAF personnel sustaining the F-35. The company expects to have around 130 people working to support F-35 aircraft maintenance by the end of the year.
As a key partner and integral part of the industry team with Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems delivers up to 15% of each fifth generation aircraft globally. This includes the advanced manufacture of the aft fuselage, empennage, and crucial components from the company's facilities in the UK and Australia, and advanced electronic warfare capability from its US business. Parts of the vertical tail, corrosion prognostics and avionics are manufactured by BAE Systems in South Australia.