Fri, Jan 13, 2006
First Tenant Of New OKC Aerospace Park
Boeing has signed a
lease to construct three hangars that will be used to upgrade the
US Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft fleet.
Located at the Oklahoma Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Technology Center (MROTC) across from Tinker Air Force Base in
Oklahoma City -- home to the AWACS fleet -- the hangars represent
the first phase of development in the MROTC. It is planned as a
major military and commercial aircraft facility with 17 hangars and
more than one million square feet of related industrial space and
education and training facilities.
Situated on approximately 370 acres, the MROTC will be connected
to Tinker AFB by a taxiway just south of the Twaddle Armed Forces
Reserve Center. The taxiway and first hangar are scheduled for
completion by November of this year, with the two other hangars to
be completed by August 2008.
"The MROTC is an important move for Boeing," said George
Muellner, vice president and general manager of Boeing Air Force
Systems. "By locating to the MROTC and partnering with the Air
Logistics Center, the company can speed up delivery of new
capabilities and offer a best value solution to the Air Force
customer."
The move also consolidates the AWACS fleet's operations, as all
maintenance work on the fleet is currently handled at Boeing's
Puget Sound facility.
The economic impact of future work at the MROTC will become
clearer once contract details are finalized, but between 275 and
325 new jobs for Boeing and Air Logistics personnel are
projected.
The initial fleet upgrades at the MROTC in 2006 involve flight
navigation and communications systems. Future modernizations known
as Block 40/45 include new mission computing hardware and software,
improved operational console displays and controls, and upgraded
radar equipment. Boeing and Tinker personnel will begin installing
the enhancements in 2009.
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