The US Air Force Sustainment Center has agreed to partner with Orbital ATK for the support of advanced military aircraft in the country.
Under the terms of the agreement, the partners will cater to the future composite aerostructure needs on new aircraft platforms or perform the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of existing platforms.
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The public-private partnership will combine advanced composite materials fabrication, and test and inspection capabilities of the US Air Force Sustainment Center and Orbital ATK to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of both operations.
The composite aerostructure design, manufacturing and inspection capabilities will be incorporated in a number of air facilities and bases in Oklahoma, Utah and Georgia.
US Air Force Sustainment Center Commander lieutenant general Lee Levy said: "It is remarkable that the world’s leading centres for advanced composite fabrication can partner long-term to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of all operations involved and ultimately increase the speed at which aircraft are repaired and returned to the field.”
The US Air Force Sustainment Center is responsible for providing sustainment and logistics readiness to deliver combat power for the US.
It performs advanced composite structures fabrication, inspection and repair capabilities that have been vital to the MRO of the nation’s most advanced military aircraft.
Orbital ATK designs, develops and fabricates multiple composite structures ranging from filament wound rocket motor cases to critical structural components for advanced military aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II combat fighter, as well as other new-generation commercial platforms.
