Page 29 - MRO Business Today 15th April 2023 Latest Issue

DEFENCE

BAE Systems to support Lockheed Martin in £147 million

F-35 Lightning II fleet support contract with F-35 JPO

Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems will provide air crew, ground crew and mission planning training, tech-
nical and operational support; supply chain and maintenance capabilities.

Lockheed Martin, whilst pursuing op-
portunities to drive efficiency across
the broader UK Combat Air Portfolio in
which BAE Systems has involvement,”
he further added.
The LANCE contract will introduce
significant capability enhancements
critical to the generation of Air Vehicle
Availability. Adopting lessons from
the previous two-year ‘Operate and
Demonstrate’ phase contract, LANCE 23
offers value for money while increas-
ing the overall scope from the previous
contract. With BAE Systems as the on-
site lead, wider UK Combat Air portfolio
synergies will be realized, and a culture
The services and expertise being provided via the LANCE effort will be integral to the daily operations and of Continuous Improvement will be
readiness of the Lightning squadrons of the Royal Navy and RAF.
fostered.
“The signature of the LANCE contract
ockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint integral to the daily operations and is a significant milestone in the matu-
LProgram Office (JPO) have signed readiness of the Lightning squadrons rity of the UK’s F-35 National Support
a contract, named the Lightning Air of the Royal Navy and RAF. We are Solution and demonstrates confidence
System National Capability Enterprise proud to partner with BAE Systems and in Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems’
(LANCE) 23-27, to support the United Lightning Team UK and look forward ability to enable the nation’s critical
Kingdom’s F-35 fleet. The contract, to continuing support to the UK’s F-35 F-35 Freedom of Action capability and
valued at approximately £147M, will fleet.” Mark Perreault, Sustainment deliver the necessary support to the UK
enhance the availability and capability Senior Program Manager, Lockheed Warfighter. Adopting lessons from the
of the UK F-35 fleet to conduct combat Martin. previous two year ‘Operate and Demon-
missions worldwide. The industry team worked closely strate’ phase contract, LANCE 23 offers
Under the LANCE 23-27 contract, with the Lightning Delivery Team and value for money, whilst also increasing
BAE Systems will serve as the primary the JPO to provide a contract that will the overall scope from the previous
subcontractor to Lockheed Martin. The support the Lightning Force operations contract and introducing significant
joint industry team will provide air and the increasing inventory of jets. The capability enhancements critical to the
crew, ground crew and mission planning services and expertise being provided generation of Air Vehicle Availability.
training; technical and operational sup- via the LANCE effort will be integral to Additionally, BAES as the on-site lead
port; IT support; supply chain manage- the daily operations and readiness of ensures that wider UK Combat Air port-
ment and expertise; and maintenance the Lightning squadrons of the Royal folio synergies are realised, and drives
capabilities. The capabilities being pro- Navy and RAF. a culture of Continuous Improvement,
vided will not only expand maintenance “We are really proud to be able to marking out the MOD, US DoD and
capacity but will also secure more than build on and continue our successful Industry as valued strategic partners.”
140 UK jobs, mainly at RAF Marham, delivery of support to the UK Light- Air Cdre Phil Brooker, Head Lightning II
with additional roles contracted within ning Fleet alongside our industry Delivery Team & Combat Air Principal
the maintenance teams on site. partners as part of Lightning Team Engineer, DE&S.
“The industry team worked closely UK,” said Dave Leach, Head of UK F-35 Overall, the LANCE contract marks a
with the Lightning Delivery Team and Sustainment, BAE Systems Air Sec- significant step forward in the UK’s F-35
the JPO to provide a contract that will tor. “We will support the continued National Support Solution, with Lock-
support the Lightning Force opera- growth of the UK Lightning Force over heed Martin and BAE Systems deliver-
tions and the increasing inventory of the coming years through the provi- ing world-leading combat air platforms
jets. The services and expertise being sion of industry skills and expertise and critical sustainment services for the
provided via the LANCE effort will be on the F-35, along with our partner worldwide F-35 fleet

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