Five Year Contract with One-Year Option

Rheinmetall is to begin inspecting, maintaining and repairing the Bundeswehr’s CH-53G transport helicopter fleet with effect from March 2021, the company announced on 9 December.

The contract, under which Rheinmetall Aviation Services (RAS) will operate two maintenance and repair bays (of five) at the Luftwaffe’s 64th Helicopter Squadron’s Diepholz air base, runs for five years with a one-year optional extension.

RAS will draw on organisational and aeronautical regulatory support from its sister company Rheinmetall Technical Publications at Bremen Airport. RAS, also based in Bremen, was established last year as part of the Group’s strategic cooperation with Sikorsky in the German Heavy Transport Helicopter (STH) procurement programme, with responsibility for maintenance, repairs, training and documentation. Rheinmetall and Sikorsky have been cooperating together intensively in various procurement projects since 2009. Thanks to the new order, expertise gained through this partnership will now be profitably put to work on behalf of the Bundeswehr. Looking ahead, the Bundeswehr also stands to benefit in the long term from the partnership between Rheinmetall and Sikorsky in the STH procurement programme, coupled with the experience accumulated at Diepholz.