AAR Sumisho Aviation Services wins Hawkeye parts deal; AAR awarded P-8A logistics contract

AAR Sumisho Aviation Services (ASAS), a joint venture launched by AAR and Sumitomo Corporation, announced a new agreement with Northrop Grumman for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft parts distribution. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has been operating the E-2D since March 2019. Under the five-year agreement, ASAS will be the distributor of certain Northrop Grumman parts to the Japan Ministry of Defense’s (JMOD) E-2D tactical airborne early warning aircraft program. ASAS will provide parts demand forecasting, stock component and spare parts inventory, and manage logistics to support the program. This relationship, ASAS’ first with Northrop Grumman, builds on AAR’s and Sumitomo’s long-term relationships with the E-2 program, along with their combined strengths in offering product and service solutions to Japan’s defence sector. “ASAS is enthusiastic about working with Northrop Grumman to bring our OEM Solutions expertise to the Japanese defence industry,” said Frank Landrio, ASAS Chief Executive Officer. “The global capabilities of ASAS and our support of defence-critical missions position us to best service the JMOD.” In November 2014, JMOD competitively selected the Northrop Grumman E-2D to fulfil an emerging next-generation airborne early warning requirement. Japan has operated 13 Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes since 1983 and is the largest E-2 operator outside the U.S. AAR Sumisho Aviation Services LLC is a 50/50 joint venture between AAR Supply Chain, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAR CORP., and ASAS Japan Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation. The Chicago area based joint venture was established in 2020 to provide comprehensive parts supply and services, including the distribution of OEM parts, to Japanese defence customers, and to distribute parts globally on behalf of Japanese OEMs. AAR awarded contract to support Royal Norwegian Air Force P-8A logistics AAR was awarded a two-year contract with two option years by the Norwegian Defence Logistics to provide commercial common parts for the Royal Norwegian Air Force P-8A aircraft fleet of five aircraft. Under the terms of this contract, AAR will provide the initial provisioning requirements and ongoing re-provisioning demands for B-737 NG-series aircraft commercial common parts, including both consumables and repairables, and deliver ground support for aircraft. AAR will assist with spares forecasting and material planning and will manage the inspection, maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification, and upgrade of repairable parts. “This program builds on AAR’s successful strategic expansion into government programs outside of the USA, and we are particularly excited to extend our P-8A platform support to the Royal Norwegian Air Force,” said Nicholas Gross, AAR Senior Vice President of Integrated Solutions. AAR Mobility Systems wins US pallet deal AAR has been awarded a firm-fixed-price (FFP) requirements contract from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to produce Next Generation All Aluminum Cargo Pallets. The basic contract period of performance is for 18 months with eight 12 month options and one 6 month option. The total contract value including option periods is US$173.5 million. AAR also provides legacy 463L systems cargo pallets to other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The next generation USAF all-aluminum pallet design will use corrosion resistant aluminum extrusions that are friction stir welded together, which is a form, fit, and function replacement for the legacy 463L pallet. The pallets are designed to be loaded and off-loaded on a variety of military and commercial aircraft. AAR will continue to supply legacy 463L pallets over the next several years during the transition to the next generation pallet. The Next Generation All Aluminum Cargo Pallets will be manufactured in Cadillac, Michigan, by AAR Mobility Systems, which specialises in the design and manufacture of mission-tailored configurations, integration / modification, re-fit of mobile shelter systems, internal slingable unit (ISU) containers, specialty pallets, and life-cycle support for governments, militaries, and nonprofit organisations worldwide. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]