$440 Million Four-and-a-Half Year PBL Agreement
GKN Aerospace has signed a follow-on Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract with the Swedish armed forces for the provision of comprehensive support for the RM12 engine, which powers the JAS 39 GRIPEN C/D fighter. This contract follows a series of multi-year RM12 PBL agreements and is expected to be worth approximately $440 million (€392 million).
Under the agreement, GKN Aerospace will continue its support for day-to-day operations of GRIPEN C/D users. The company will ensure engine availability for every Swedish Air Force mission as well as for GRIPEN C/D export customers: the Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand. This will include the provisioning of technical product support as well as comprehensive maintenance, repair and overhaul, including repair development and spare parts supply.
“GKN Aerospace closely monitors every aspect of product life cycle cost effectiveness […] With the recognition and award from the customer, GKN Aerospace will continue to do its best in keeping this engine’s excellent track record, ensuring it is one of the best single engine installations in the world. The company understands the importance of keeping the engine system in active service for many years to come,” stated Joakim Andersson, President, GKN Aerospace Engines.
The GKN Aerospace RM12 engine has powered the GRIPEN throughout the approximately 310,000 flight hours the aircraft has already achieved. It is based on the General Electric F404 engine, from which it has been developed to include single engine safety criteria, higher performance and greater durability. The primary focus of the development programme for the RM12 was to deliver the highest possible operational effectiveness with the most favourable life-cycle cost. GKN Aerospace holds the military type certificate (MTC) for the RM12.
In January, FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) selected GKN Aerospace to be the product support and maintenance, reapir and overhaul provider for the RM16, the engine for the GRIPEN E, with the aim of leveraging synergies between the RM12 and the RM16 as much as possible.
