C-17A Globemaster: £2.6m Aircraft Maintenance Contract Signed

Defence Equipment and Support has signed a £2.6m maintenance contract for the RAF’s C-17A Globemaster fleet.

The deal, delivered three months ahead of schedule, will ensure the availability of the long-range transport planes, the RAF said.

Twenty-five industry jobs will be created at RAF Brize Norton, the Oxfordshire base that houses the eight aircraft, as a result of the contract.

The heavy-lift planes are capable of carrying troops, Chinook helicopters and vast amounts of humanitarian aid.

The aircraft take part in combat, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions across the globe, and can transport 45,360kg of freight more than 8,334km.

Used by the RAF’s 99 Squadron, also housed at Brize Norton, they already undergo standard, periodical maintenance from Boeing in the UK, alongside more extensive check-ups in the US once every five years.

Darren Astall, delivery team leader at Defence Equipment and Support, said the contract ensures the fleet can "continue to be maintained by highly experienced technicians".

"This is great news for the prosperity of RAF Brize Norton and the surrounding Oxfordshire area," he added.

"It is also a great example of how we work closely with industry to deliver specialised support to our customer, the RAF, while creating valuable job opportunities.

"A C-17 Availability Report recently concluded that additional contractor support was required, so I am delighted we are now meeting the enduring needs of our customer with this arrangement."

Cover image: An RAF C-17 delivers cold storage units to Beirut earlier this year (Picture: RAF).