22 juillet 2019 | International, Naval

US Navy signs contract to buy Fat Albert replacement aircraft

The US Navy has officially signed a contract to purchase a used C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the British Royal Air Force.

The aircraft will replace the C-130T, nicknamed Fat Albert, used by the Blue Angels flying demonstration team.

The contract was signed in Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group's chalet at the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Fat Albert has served the Blue Angels for 17 years since 2002, providing logistics and transportation. It retired in May this year.

The aircraft flew more than 30,000 hours and now serves as a ground-based training platform in Fort Worth, Texas.

The flying demonstration team will continue to fly US Navy or Marine Corps C-130s until the arrival of the replacement C-130J aircraft.

US Naval Air Systems Command Air, ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs Program executive officer major general Gregory Masiello said: “We are very much looking forward to taking delivery of the aircraft and are very grateful to both the UK MoD and Marshall for enabling this transaction and know that the C-130 Hercules will be a valuable addition to our flying demonstration team.”

Marshall is tasked with the job of delivering maintenance, painting and modifications to the US Navy's new C-130J that is being acquired from the RAF.

RAF Number 2 Group commanding officer air vice-marshal David Cooper said: “This is a superb indication of the co-operation between the militaries of the UK and the US. We know that this C-130 Hercules will serve the US Navy as well as it has served the RAF.”

Blue Angels is the US Navy's flight demonstration squadron

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/us-navy-signs-contract-to-buy-fat-albert-replacement-aircraft/

Sur le même sujet

  • Un rapport parlementaire évoque l’idée de porter le budget de la Défense à 2,5% du PIB

    18 février 2022 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Un rapport parlementaire évoque l’idée de porter le budget de la Défense à 2,5% du PIB

    DÉFENSE Un rapport parlementaire évoque l'idée de porter le budget de la Défense à 2,5% du PIB Dans un contexte où un conflit de haute intensité n'est plus considéré comme une hypothèse d'école, les députés Jean-Louis Thiériot et Patricia Mirallès estiment que la remontée en puissance des forces françaises doit se poursuivre et garantir la hausse annuelle prévue de +3 Md€ jusqu'en 2025. Et encore, il ne s'agit que du minimum. « Sous réserves de rester avec les mêmes ambitions, il y a un besoin complémentaire de 20 à 30 Md€ sur la prochaine LPM. Ce qui mène, grosso modo, à un effort de 2,5% du PIB (...) pour avoir notre modèle d'armée complet », a expliqué Jean-Louis Thiériot, lors de l'examen d'un rapport sur la préparation à la haute intensité, co-écrit avec Patricia Mirallès. Les deux députés ont livré quelques déficits capacitaires dont souffrent actuellement les forces françaises. S'agissant de l'Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, le nombre de ses avions de combat est insuffisant ; ses capacités en matière de transport aérien médian devront être renouvelées (les C-235 n'étant pas éternels). Et la question des hélicoptères de transport lourd reste posée. Pour Jean-Louis Thiérot, porter le budget des armées à 2,5% du PIB aurait un réel bénéfice pour l'économie française : « un euro investi dans la défense rapporte davantage. (...) c'est un secteur industriel vital pour la France, réparti sur tout le territoire (...) permettant à la fois d'avoir l'outil de défense dont on a besoin mais aussi de développer des technologies qui nous servent sur d'autres marchés », a plaidé le député. Opex360 du 16 février

  • Europe’s Industry Finally Gets MALE Drone Program

    8 mars 2022 | International, Aérospatial

    Europe’s Industry Finally Gets MALE Drone Program

    Airbus, Dassault and Leonardo are collaborating on the €7.1 billion Eurodrone development program.

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 08, 2020

    9 janvier 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 08, 2020

    DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Aurora Industries,* Camuy, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $53,594,133 modification (P00008) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-19-D-1128) with three one-year option periods for coats and trousers. This is a firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Jan. 10, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AIR FORCE BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., San Diego, California, has been awarded a $49,620,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification (P00026) to previously awarded FA4600-12-D-0002 for additional Air Vehicle Planning System (APS) support. The contract modification is for a ceiling increase to allow the purchase of continued maintenance and sustainment activities, ongoing development activities, increased onsite support requirements and required modifications to APS for new and modified weapons. Work will be performed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; Bellevue, Nebraska; and San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2024. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $195,000,826. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds; and fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds are being used. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. Kapsuun Group LLC, Lorton, Virginia, has been awarded a $14,535,027 firm-fixed-price contract for A4/A6 staff support services. Work will be performed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and is expected to be complete by July 9, 2025. This award is the result of direct award acquisition with one offer being received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,719,657 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Combat Command's Acquisition Management Integration Center, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-20-C-0002). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2052857/source/GovDelivery/

Toutes les nouvelles