TAE signs AGT 1500 Refresh Contract with Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO)
TAE, Australia’s leading gas turbine engine maintenance and engineering company, announced today that it signed a contract with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) to provide program management, deeper maintenance, engineering and supply support for the Honeywell AGT1500 engine that powers the Australian Army’s M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. The five year contract will enable AGT1500 engine MRO support to be repatriated to Australia and will provide a broad range of program benefits.
The contract builds on the existing relationship that DMO and TAE have developed over the last 18 months, during which time TAE have provided engine ‘Triage’ repairs. TAE will next month commission the AGT1500 Engine Test Facility that will be located at Amberley and enable full AGT1500 engine overhaul testing to be completed using an advanced PC based data acquisition system. The test cell was designed and manufactured in house by TAE’s Engine Test Cell support team.
TAE’s activities will be supported by its OEM partner, Honeywell, who will provide spares, data and technical support to the project and TAE looks forward to further strengthening this valued OEM relationship.
The contract marks the first major land based contract for TAE. Andrew Sanderson, General Manager TAE, said “In country support for the AGT1500 engine is the start of a new era at TAE and we are extremely pleased to take this journey with the DMO. Our team is excited by the new challenge and fully committed to supporting the Australian Army”.