Large Military Contractor Sees Learjet Fleet Grow to 26

Aery Aviation, LLC, has purchased another 12 Learjets in Special Mission Aircraft (SMA) configuration, bringing their collection of secret squirrel planes to 26 in all.

Aery acquired a smattering of support gear and spare parts inventory, ancillary equipment needed to keep their global logistics afloat in a time of supply chain instability. Aery now boasts the largest SMA fleet in the world, thanks to its myriad contracts with the Department of Defense, foreign governments, and other entities big enough to have an official seal. 

Aery's business has seen significant expansion in recent years, slotting in cleanly to the government contractor role since their 2016 founding. From the start, the company boasted aerospace design, engineering, systems integration, modifications, certifications, maintenance, and flight ops in their portfolio. Now, their flight services have expanded to include medical, banner tow, radar/electric warfare training, stand off jamming, and fleet operations. It should be noted, however, that their work towing banners consists of dragging targets for military practice, as opposed to insurance adverts over sports stadiums. The Aery fleet has regularly seen upwards of 5,000 flight hours per year, and company brass is expecting that figure to reach 7,000 by the end of 2022. Their contracts with the U.S. Navy and flight ops for a global hospital network have kept their fleet in constant rotation, with additional maintenance facilities under construction at their Newport News, Virginia location. 

Aery's new special mission jets will see service as engineering testbeds for the company's work with the Navy, as well as the fulfillment of their 2020 deal worth $146 million for a variety of services. Chief Pilot overseeing Aery's HEEWJ program, Hunter Hobson, relayed their contractual duties to "provide the Navy with next-generation services including standoff jamming, electronic warfare, and target tow operations, flying CONUS and OCONUS." The military has found it much more affordable to pay outside contractors for such services when needed, preferring to leave the hassle of fleet maintenance and operation for practice aircraft in hands less-bound by regulations. 

"These aircraft are used to simulate a wide variety of airborne threats to train and test/evaluate shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems, operators, and aircrew on how to counter potential enemy electronic warfare and electronic attack operations in today's electronic combat environment. this support is provided in a variety of venues, from basic 'schoolhouse' air intercept control training to large multinational exercises and small, single-unit training exercises, including target missions," said Larry Hecht, Aery's Director of Flight Ops.

FMI: www.aeryaviation.com