Will Support MoD's Fleet Of EH101s
AgustaWestland has been awarded the Integrated Merlin
Operational Support (IMOS) contract, which will modify the
company's logistics support arrangements for the UK Ministry of
Defence’s (MoD’s) fleet of EH101 Merlin
helicopters.
The partnering arrangement -- valued at £450 million for
the first five years of a 25 year contract -- will provide support
to the UK MoD’s fleet of EH101 Merlin Mk.1 and Mk.3
helicopters, operated by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force
respectively.
"Until now MoD has operated separate support systems for the two
different types of Merlin aircraft," said Adam Ingram, Minister for
the Armed Forces. "This was the best approach when introducing both
helicopters into service, but not the optimum way to manage support
in the long-term.
The IMOS contract introduces payments for achieved flying hours
and novel incentivization arrangements associated with delivering
agreed levels of aircraft serviceability, operational fleet
aircraft numbers and EH101 Merlin HM Mk.1 training system
availability. Unique contract mechanisms will allow Industry to
meet changing MoD requirements whilst retaining supply chain
stability.
"This new contract will incentive industry to increase the
availability of Merlin helicopters to the Front Line Commands,
while saving the MoD and UK taxpayers around £Ibn in support
costs over the next 25 years," said Ingram. "These arrangements
will also sustain up to 1,200 jobs, many of which are at
AgustaWestland in Evil."
"This contract is a further confirmation of the
AgustaWestland’s commitment to provide efficiencies in and
support to the UK helicopter fleet and to guarantee value for money
to the UK government" said Giuseppe Orsi, AgustaWestland’s
Chief Executive Officer.
Speaking after the announcement of the contract, AgustaWestland
Military Programmes Managing Director Alan Johnston said "The
program will also deliver major support cost savings while
enhancing aircraft availability to the UK Ministry of Defence.
Integrated Operational Support lies at the heart of Strategic
Partnering with the UK MoD and our commitment to business
transformation, which will deliver benefits to all parties."
Simultaneously with the award of the IMOS contract,
AgustaWestland has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to provide
support to the Royal Navy’s EH101 Merlin HM Mk.1 mission
system, which includes the Merlin Avionics Systems, the Merlin
Avionic Test System and the Merlin Training System at RNAS
Culdrose.