BAE Systems To Maintain T-34, T-44, T-6 Trainers

The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract to maintain and service T-34, T-44 and T-6 trainer aircraft valued at approximately $400 million over five years to BAE Systems. The company will perform scheduled inspections, along with required repairs, modifications and logistical support, for more than 300 aircraft operated by the Chief of Naval Air Training.

“We continue to execute on our strategy to grow our services footprint within BAE Systems,” said Dave Herr, president of BAE Systems Support Solutions. “This win strengthens our position in the aviation services market and creates opportunities for additional organic growth.”

The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. The work will be conducted at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas, at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida and at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, also in Florida. BAE Systems will be actively recruiting from the existing skilled workforce at each site to fill maintenance positions.
 
“This is a major win for our team, significantly expanding our support to the U.S. Navy for trainer aircraft,” said Gordon Eldridge, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Solutions at BAE Systems. “We’re excited to have this opportunity to serve NAVAIR and the Chief of Naval Air Training, and we look forward to serving the warfighters who fly and train in these aircraft.” The winning BAE Systems team includes support subcontractors Elbit Systems of America’s subsidiary M7 Aerospace LLC, PKL Services, Inc., Hawker Beechcraft, StandardAero, and Sensenich Propeller Service.
 
The aircraft variants involved are the single-engine T-34, the twin-engine T-44A and T-44C, and the single-engine T-6A and T-6B. The contract includes an initial base term plus multiple options. The period of performance will be five years if all options are exercised.

(Pictured Top: T-34C. Bottom T-6B)

FMI: www.navy.mil, www.baesystems.com