CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON
Contract worth $365 million will bolster operation of tanker-transports until their planned out-of-service date in 2011
The UK Defence Logistics Organisation has placed a contract worth £207 million ($365 million) to support operations of the UK Royal Air Force's Vickers VC10 tanker-transport aircraft fleet until its planned out-of-service date in 2011.
BAE Systems' Customer Solutions & Support (CS&S) business unit and the UK Defence Aviation Repair Agency will conduct work on the 19-strong fleet under the spares-inclusive agreement, which will guarantee a set aircraft availability rate. The framework for the contract is similar to that already in place with CS&S to support operations of the RAF's Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol aircraft.
The VC10 fleet is operated by the RAF's 10 and 101 Squadrons, which maintain around 33 crews at RAF Brize Norton.
The units conducted tanker, transport and medical evacuation tasks with nine aircraft as part of last year's Operation Telic during the Iraq war, flying up to eight sorties a day. The aircraft achieved a serviceability rate of 85% during the campaign, according to squadron sources.
The UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme will replace the RAF's current tanker-transport fleet, which in addition comprises nine Lockheed TriStars operated by 216 Sqn.
Initial services with the Airbus A330-200 or Boeing 767-300ER will start in 2008, with full operations to begin in 2011. A decision on the £13 billion contract is expected early this year.
Source: Flight International
