Germany plans €1 billion A400M support contract

Germany plans to out-source the maintenance and logistics support of its A400M fleet, and has issued an initial tender (Source: Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement, BWB; issued Oct. 8, 2007):

Award of a Contract for the Provision of Overall Technical/Logistic Support Services for the A400M Weapon System

A400M aircraft: Germany plans to out-source the maintenance and logistics support of its A400M fleet and has issued an initial tender (Image © AIRBUS MILITARY)

Award of a contract for the provision of overall technical/logistic support services for the A400M Weapon System of the German Air Force (GAF) during the In-Service Phase, including establishment and operation of a Support Center (SC) A400M with cooperative models, with an option to include in the contract support services for the A400M Weapon System of the French Air Force (FAF), depending on decision about A400M support strategy still to be made by France.

Estimated cost or range, excluding VAT:

>= 1.000.000.000 EUR

Short description of the contract:

The contract to be concluded is planned to contain all products and services required for the overall technical/logistic in-service support of the A400M Weapon System. This mainly includes all services provided by a system-supporting company with respect to the technical/logistic support / post-design services, services regarding maintenance and materiel supply for the A400M Weapon System.

However, the Customer reserves basically the right to exclude some products and services before contract signature.

According to the current planning, a total of 60 German A400M A/C will be delivered between 2010 and 2016. The completion of all measures for the establishment of the operational readiness of the A400M Weapon System – logistic support date (LSD) – is scheduled for May 2010 and the beginning of the in-service phase at the Air Transport Wing (LTG 62) in Wunstorf is envisaged by August 2010.

The A/C shall have a service life of 30 years and the annual intended level of utilization currently amounts to 377 flight hours per A/C and year.

Two wings each equipped with 30 A/C will be established. These wings will be stationed in Wunstorf and Alt Duvenstedt (Hohn).

If a decision in favor of a French-German operational squadron (multinational operational squadron, if required) is made, this site will be included in the provision of services.

The A400M logistic concept defines three levels for the maintenance (ML 1 to 3) of the Weapon System. ML 2 is divided into “on A/C” and “off A/C” activities. The A400M Weapon System will be maintained and repaired by GAF personnel up to ML 2 “on A/C”. Maintenance services beyond this level shall be provided by the Contractor.

The existing GAF Maintenance Groups should be responsible for the maintenance of specific general equipment (i.e. equipment “cross-utilized” in other A/C types of GAF) using already available capacities.

The system analysis capability, i.e. the technical analysis- and evaluation-capability and related organic repair capability for missions (i.e. heavy maintenance activities beyond ML 2 “on A/C”) by own GAF personnel shall be guaranteed by a cooperation with the Contractor, basically at the location of the A/C depot maintenance.

Within the scope of this cooperation, this GAF personnel must be trained and kept current by the Contractor by integrating them in the relevant work fields. The Contractor shall establish and operate a Support Center (SC) A400M for the In-Service Phase in Germany taking into account the specified requirements and particularly the cooperation with GAF.

The GAF will set up a strategic partnership with the Contractor for up to 31 years (initial contractual period to be defined plus option). The Contractor shall be responsible for the overall system support of the A400M weapon system based on Customer’s regulations and guidelines.

Major maintenance activities will be performed by the supporting industry alone or in cooperations with the Air Force for specific components. Additionally, the SC will be in charge of some parts of the materiel supply.

The Customer intends to have the system support for the A400M Weapon System provided by a single prime contractor under one contract covering all fields of services involved (i.e. service out of one hand) if the requirement of best value for money is fulfilled.

The Contractor must demonstrate adequate skills and capacities for the technical-logistic support of large transport aircraft (e.g. continued airworthiness) as well as an adequate industrial structure with its subcontractors taking into consideration economical aspects.

For the purpose of ensuring a multinational interoperability the Contractor to be selected must agree to support further potential international users of the A400M Weapon System if there will be respective international cooperations / agreements.

French Air Force

As a User of the A400M Weapon System, France is currently assessing the alternatives of supporting their A/C. Therefore, it is possible that similar products and services could be contracted for FAF taking into account the following parameters and conditions:

According to current planning, a total of 50 French A400M A/C will be delivered between 2009 and 2019. The completion of all measures for the establishment of the operational readiness of the French A400M Weapon System – Logistic Support Date (LSD) – is scheduled for July 2009 and the beginning of the In-Service Phase at the Air Transport Wing in Orleans is envisaged by October 2009.

The A/C shall have a service life of 30 years and the annual intended level of utilization currently amounts to 660 flight hours per A/C and year.

Source: defense-aerospace.com

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