Hellenic Aerospace Industries has won a three-year, $43 million contract with the Saudi Arabian defence ministry to maintain and repair the Rolls-Royce Allison T56 engines that power its air force fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical transports.

The Greek firm will partner Riyadh-based Middle East Propulsion under the deal. Stakeholders in the latter include Pratt & Whitney parent United Technology, R-R and Saudi Arabian Airlines.

HAI chief executive Tassos Philippakos says the agreement will enable his company to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region.

The Royal Saudi Air Force has an active inventory of 40 C-130E/H transports, plus six KC-130H tankers, according to Flightglobal's MiliCAS database. All are powered by T56 engines.

Source: Flight International