The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (UK- MoD) announced the extension of the Hercules Integrated Operational Support (HIOS) contract, agreeing a price of £350 million (US$547 million*) for the services to be delivered through to the end of 2015.

Marshall Aerospace is the prime contractor providing deep maintenance services along with technical support on the C-130K and spare parts common to both fleets. Lockheed Martin is responsible for overall supply chain management, provisioning of C-130J peculiar items and repairing parts for both aircraft types and Rolls-Royce providing full support to the engines. The HIOS contract was signed in 2006 for a 24 year duration at a value of £1.52 billion at that time.

Work will be undertaken by Lockheed Martin at sites in Havant, Stansted and Gloucester and by Rolls-Royce together with its sub-contractor Vector Aerospace in Filton, Hook, Croydon and Brize Norton all in the United Kingdom (UK).

The UK- MoD stated the new agreement “will sustain 500 UK jobs, with the majority based in Marshall Aerospace’s facility at Cambridge Airport. “Saves the MoD £170 million by replacing several short-term contracts with one agreement to provide the maintenance of the whole Hercules fleet until the end of 2015.”

The Lockheed Martin C-130K and J have conducted tactical air transport in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Falkland Islands and Libya and HIOS has underpinned support to these operations.

Rolls-Royce teams in the UK and Indianapolis in the U.S. to provide servicing for the AE 2100D3 engine which powers the C-130J aircraft and the T56 engine on the C-130K.

Rolls-Royce has also secured an extension to the contract to provide technical support for Conway engines, powering the VC10 tanker aircraft till it completes service in 2013. The extension is valued at approximately £100 million to Rolls-Royce for the C-130 and VC10 engines.

Steve Fitz-Gerald, Marshall Aerospace's chief executive officer said, "We are extremely proud of our role in supporting the Royal Air Force’s fleet of C-130s and of the partnering arrangements we have in place with Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce and the Ministry of Defense."

Paul Craig, Rolls-Royce's executive vice president services – defense added, "This contract amendment is testimony to the standard of service delivered to-date and reflects the value we offer to our customer. We take pride in supporting the Royal Air Force's fleet of C-130s and in our successful partnership with Lockheed Martin, Marshall Aerospace and the Ministry of Defense."

"It is particularly pleasing that we have continued to deliver high levels of aircraft availability at a time when both the C-130 and VC10 have recently been involved in high tempo operations. Our innovative approach, which continues to ensure availability for critical operations, has been greatly appreciated by the RAF."
Test landing by a C-130 Mk3 Hercules Transport Aircraft, at Saunton Sands air strip, based in North Devon. CROWN COPYRIGHT

Peter Luff UK's Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology said, “The Hercules aircraft is a key part of our long-range RAF air transport force and supports thousands of troops on operations across the globe. This new agreement will not only save the tax-payer money but will also ensure the fleet has continued support to maintain aircraft availability, especially for Afghanistan.

“The announcement of this contract is just part of the comprehensive regeneration of our Armed Forces’ equipment that has been made possible thanks to the Government’s balancing of the defence budget for the first time in a generation.”

Group Captain Nick Cox, defense equipment and support project team leader added: “The Hercules Integrated Operational Support contract will continue to play a crucial role in maintaining aircraft availability as our Hercules fleet continues to meet the demands of our operations.”

Overview of Hercules Integrated Operational Support (HIOS)

For the past 45 years, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has depended on the C-130 to support a variety of critical missions; most recently for everything from humanitarian support in Haiti to Special Forces combat operations in Afghanistan.

Known as Hercules Integrated Operational Support (HIOS), this team commenced work in 2006 as a joint partnership between the UK – MoD, Marshall Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin, providing long-term support for the Royal Air Force's ((RAF) C-130 fleet. Marshall Aerospace acts as the HIOS prime contractor along with Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin as sub-primes. The foundation of HIOS is a partnered approach between the MoD and industry to assure aircraft availability to the RAF.

The contract covers a 24-year period extending to the C-130K’s and C-130J’s out-of-service dates and covers:

— Aircraft maintenance (Marshall Aerospace lead)
— Technical support (Marshall Aerospace lead)
— Supply chain (Lockheed Martin lead)
— Propulsion management (Rolls-Royce lead)

HIOS team members include representatives from all partners, including the RAF. The majority of HIOS work is conducted at UK locations; RAF Brize Norton, where the operational C-130K and C-130J fleets are based with HIOS industry technical, supply chain and simulator support; Cambridge, where HIOS partners perform depot maintenance, modifications and provide technical support and management. Other U.S. locations include Rolls-Royce’s Indianapolis facility and Lockheed Martin’s C-130 plant in Marietta, Georgia.

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