22 Dec 2006 | Ref. 390/2006
RAF Marham, United Kingdom. - BAE Systems has been awarded a £947 million contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) that will boost the Tornado aircraft’s availability for frontline operations, while considerably reducing the cost to the taxpayer. This new support model is also being used as the blueprint for other aircraft in RAF service plus Royal Navy vessels and Britsh Army armoured fighting vehicles.
The contract, known as ATTAC (Availability Transformation: Tornado Aircraft Contract) will provide guaranteed availability of Tornado aircraft for the RAF, is potentially worth in the region of £1.5 billion over the initial 10 years of the programme, and will save the MoD £510 million.
Under the ATTAC service, BAE Systems will work in a partnered approach with the UK MoD’s Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) and the RAF, reflecting principles such as Through Life Capability Management and contracting for availability as set out in the UK Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS).
BAE Systems group managing director Ian King stated: "ATTAC is a pivotal example of the Defence Industrial Strategy in action because of its far-reaching implications. It is a major programme in its own right and will provide the RAF with significantly enhanced strike power at lower cost - but the benefits will extend far beyond Tornado. We are already transferring the learning gained through the development of ATTAC to provide a support blueprint for new aircraft entering RAF service, such as Typhoon, Nimrod MRA4 and the F-35 Lightning II, and also for other large, complex through-life programmes in the UK and overseas."
Minister for Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, said: "This contract will transform the way we support the Tornado fleet, significantly improve the availability of aircraft to the front-line and deliver savings of around £510million to the UK taxpayer. The operational record of the RAF Tornado aircraft is second-to-none and this innovative contract will ensure that this success continues for many years to come."
BAE Systems has worked with the DLO and RAF on a series of pilot programmes to build confidence that ATTAC will deliver and they have already demonstrated the considerable benefits of working together. For example combined maintenance and upgrade has reduced traditional maintenance manhours by 50 per cent and support to the secondary power system has been undertaken at 23 per cent less than the historical costs.
Under ATTAC, BAE Systems takes responsibility for "depth" support at RAF Marham (the RAF will continue to carry out day-to-day flightline maintenance) and will combine this with a structured and cost-effective approach to upgrade work under the Capability Development and Sustainment Service (CDSS) to maintain the aircraft’s warfighting effectiveness throughout its service life. Overall the company will be responsible for ensuring the required aircraft at an agreed capability are provided to the front line when they are needed.
The pilot programmes will now be subsumed into the overall contract which will have an initial service delivery by mid 2007 and be fully in place by the end of that year. A phase 2 final element will deliver a series of 'supplemental' contracts covering remaining avionics and general systems requirements plus engineering support services by the end of December 2007.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £12 billion (US$22 billion) in 2005, excluding the Group's former interest in Airbus.
For further information, please contact:
Jon Bonnick, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1772 854 636 Mobile: + 44 (0)780 171 4753
Email: jon.bonnick2@baesystems.com
Mike Sweeney, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0) 1252 38 3074 Mob: + 44 (0)780 171 6452
Email: mike.sweeney2@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
