Airbus Australia Pacific has signed a strategic teaming agreement with Northrop Grumman Australia to cooperate in the delivery of advanced and optimised aircraft sustainment capabilities at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh in South Australia.
The collaboration between the Australian operations of the two companies will see a focus on aircraft sustainment activities from 2021 onwards, bringing expanded capabilities and synergies between the two companies in support of the RAAF.
“At Airbus Australia Pacific, we are proud to provide ongoing support to the sustainment activities on critical platforms for the RAAF with Northrop Grumman Australia,” said Andrew Mathewson, Managing Director Airbus Australia Pacific. “Our strategic teaming agreement allows us to expand on our collective capabilities and provide our RAAF customer with the best possible outcomes.”
“Both Airbus Australia Pacific and Northrop Grumman Australia have a long and proven heritage in platform stewardship here in Australia. Together, this expanded team has the capacity, capability and credentials needed to deliver reliable and effective sustainment solutions to the RAAF at Edinburgh,” added Mathewson.
Airbus Australia Pacific and Northrop Grumman Australia bring an array of proven Australian industry partners to this arrangement that will augment those capabilities and expand access to specialty competencies.
“This agreement underscores Northrop Grumman’s commitment to Australian investment across advanced capabilities, skills and jobs in support of the country’s strategic defence programs,” said Chris Deeble, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Australia.
This teaming agreement with Northrop Grumman highlights the importance of continuing to grow Australia’s industrial capabilities. With over five decades of advancing Australia’s Defence and commercial aircraft segments, Airbus has injected more than A$950 million of activities into the Australian industry over the last three years, generating economic benefits of over A$1.7 billion for Australia. The company has directly invested more than A$100 million into ARH Tiger and MRH90 projects, Airbus is committed to long term collaborative relationships that will deliver real results for Australia’s Defence industry capabilities, create local jobs and technology upskilling.
