MELBOURNE, Fla., Jan. 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has completed a source selection competition to identify a painting contractor for the Air Force's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft fleet. Aviation Exteriors (AvEx) of New Iberia, La., was selected based on a best value analysis.
The work will be done using the Aeroframe Corporation's strip/paint hangars collocated with Northrop Grumman's Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center (LCMMC) at the Chennault Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana. All Joint STARS Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) is performed at the LCMMC facility.
"This competition identified a source that supports our continuing effort to provide the best value to the government under the Total System Support Responsibility program," said Dave Nagy, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) Programs. "This new source will be able to provide services that meet the technical specifications and reduce cost savings. In addition, this selection will result in a schedule savings as the work can be done concurrently with the aircraft PDM schedule, increasing aircraft availability for the warfighter."
Previously, aircraft would be ferried to another location for painting following PDM and before returning to service with the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., where they are based.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.