Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has signed a $60 million agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia to provide deeper maintenance to the RAAF’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the life of the fleet. Already delivering through-life-support on the P-8A fleet, the deeper maintenance contract sets the stage for BDA to undertake major maintenance, repair, and overhaul work and spiral upgrades, including evolving its digital sustainment capability, at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
“The contract covers the life of type for the P-8A fleet and will provide exceptional ongoing opportunities for our local supply chain and up-skilling of the broader defence and aerospace industry,” said BDA director Commercial Derivative Aircraft, Darryn Fletcher. “We expect the contract will necessitate around 37 additional South Australian jobs from the outset and the engagement of multiple local businesses, and that these numbers will increase over time.”
The milestone aligns with the Commonwealth’s Industry Plan for Aerospace Platform Deeper Maintenance and Structural Integrity and delivers on its objective to build sovereign sustainment capability and Australian defence industry. “To achieve this on one of Australia’s most complex aerospace programs is evidence of our strong partnership with the Commonwealth and our shared commitment to developing sovereign deeper maintenance capability,” said Fletcher.
The first RAAF P-8A is anticipated to undergo deeper maintenance in July 2022 after six years of service. The contract also firmly establishes Australia as a potential hub to support other P-8 operators in the region. BDA has proven credentials in delivering deeper maintenance in collaboration with the RAAF, the Commonwealth and Australian industry having serviced the E-7A Wedgetail, F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet, F-111, and B707 over the past two decades.
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