Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics (LMALC) is planning to expand its US and Argentina-based military maintenance operations into the civil aerospace market.
Turnover at the Greenville-based company has grown to $800 million from $200 million three years ago and should reach $1 billion by 2003. LMALC president Daniel Patterson says the biggest near-term driver of growth will be its engine overhaul site at the former Kelly AFB near San Antonio, Texas, which it took over recently.
LMALC has a seven-year, $2.7 billion contract to overhaul US Air Force General Electric TF39 (Lockheed Martin C-5) and Allison T56 (C-130 and P-3) engines at the site, but it also plans to undertake civil work there. "After the transition is complete, we're going to look at commercial engines," says Patterson, who adds that the main target is the CFM International CFM56.
Civil diversification is also planned for LMALC-managed Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina (LMASA), with the focus on developing overhaul capability for Boeing 737 airframes and CFM56 and Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines. The aim, says Patterson, is to "work towards total fleet management".
LMASA's Air Material Command facility (an ex-Argentinian air force site), plans to resume manufacturing in Cordoba as a structural subcontractor, and according to Patterson is targeting wing work on the Fairchild 728JET and Embraer RJ-170.
The company also aims to broaden its military capabilities beyond upgrading Argentinian McDonnell Douglas A-4AR attack aircraft and Beech T-34C trainers. Planned capabilities include T56 overhaul and avionics upgrades of locally built aircraft. LMALC is also chasing air force contracts in Australia and Taiwan. Australia plans to contract out support for its fleet of General Dynamics F-111s.
In the USA, LMALC supports the military's Lockheed Martin C-130, P-3, S-3 and McDonnell Douglas C-9 fleets.
Source: Flight International
