By Jon Lake
The latest incentivised phase of the BAE Systems Hawk Integrated Operational Support (IOS) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will guarantee that agreed Hawk T.Mk 1 sortie rates will be maintained through to 2011, while also generating cost savings.
BAE Systems has signed a £38 million ($75m) contract with Babcock Defence Services, which will provide first- and second-line maintenance at RAF Valley and RAF Leeming, and, from April 2008, at RNAS Culdrose.
Under the Hawk IOS contract, fleet and supply chain management, forward and depth maintenance, and technical support services at these three main Hawk operating bases will be provided by BAE Systems and Babcock Defence Services.
In addition, a spares availability service will be provided to RAF Scampton, home of the RAF Aerobatics Team, the Red Arrows,
and to MoD Boscombe Down, where the Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) is a long-standing Hawk operator.
This is said to be the first time that flight line operations will be directly supported by BAE Systems personnel.
Source: Flight Daily News
