Airbus Australia Pacific (Airbus) has been awarded a two year contract extension to provide sustainment services through to 2024 for the RAAF's C-130J fleet, including engineering, maintenance, and supply support.
Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said the contract extension was granted after Airbus provided outstanding sustainment support to the C-130J Hercules fleet.
“Airbus reduced sustainment costs by $10 million over the 2019 to 2024 period,” Minister Pyne said.
“The contract extension out to 2024 will secure the ongoing employment of approximately 220 industry personnel, located at RAAF Base Richmond.”
“Australian content is valued at approximately $110 million for the two year extension and comprises about 62 per cent of the contract,” Minister for Defence Industry Steven Ciobo added.
The RAAF No 37 Squadron operates 12 C‑130J Hercules from RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. The fleet has been supported under contract with Airbus since March 2009.
The Hercules are some of the busiest aircraft in the RAAF. Earlier this year, Airbus used two ex-RAAF C-130H airframes to recreate the fuselage of the C-130J aircraft at RAAF Richmond as a training device, with Lockheed Martin providing consulting services and spare parts.
“This new C-130J Fuselage Trainer will enhance the operational availability of our C-130J fleet while enabling us to provide a safe, cost-effective and realistic training environment for our loadmasters and rear crew,” a RAAF spokesperson said.