Supporting Typhoon for the frontline

What are the benefits?

So what are the benefits to our customer? Cliff Wren, Defence Equipment and Support for the UK MOD says:

"Measureable performance improvement.  When we started the contract, things like the ‘Aircraft on Ground Awaiting Spares metric (not a good thing) was typically in double digits, whereas now it’s around four per cent.  That is a dramatic improvement and it has been delivered with significant cost reductions”

It has transferred a large degree of integration risk – traditionally, the risk that contracts don’t mesh properly is held entirely by the Crown.  By putting a wrapper around that and by bringing in BAE Systems as prime, the integration risk becomes BAE Systems’ risk. The final benefit is cost control.  In the winter of 2008 we set ourselves some significant challenges in terms of the savings it could make, either by cost avoidance or by doing things more cheaply.  It is delivering against a £2.6bn affordability challenge."

The Facts

• The Typhoon Availability Service was awarded on 4th March 2009 - followed six months later by the Initial Service Date
• The five year contract will transform the service to enable a reduction in fleet through life support cost of £2.5bn
• Although we have had a presence at RAF Coningsby since 2004, the contract has increased our employees based at RAF Coningsby to over 300 people
• Our support covers areas such as a technical support centre and a maintenance facility for Typhoon
• We extended the contract to RAF Leuchars in October 2010 to coincide with the stand up of No. 6 Squadron.

What is Quick Reaction Alert?

Quick Reaction Alert

What role do we play in QRA?

Through a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence, known as the Typhoon Availability Service (TAS), we play a major role in ensuring the availability of the  RAF’s Typhoon fleet to meet its commitments. We do this by working side-by-side with RAF personnel at RAF Coningsby, RAF Leuchars and at ‘satellite locations’ such as the Falkland Islands; between us we ensure that when there is a QRA call, and the pilot has to press that button, everything works.

TAS in action

Through Operation Ellamy we have proved that through the Typhoon Availability Service we can deliver real benefits, even under the most extreme of operational circumstances.

What happened?

What did we do?

We ensured the availability of the RAF’s Typhon fleet to meet the UN requirements in Libya. Following  a brief by the RAF, our personnel at Warton and Samlesbury worked side-by-side with personnel at RAF Coningsby. We met the surge requirement operations, logistics, technical and training support for the RAF to deploy Typhoon aircraft at very short notice.  Support was provided by BAE Systems personnel 24/7 across the weekend.