Airbus Defence and PAL Aerospace will work together in providing C295 in-service support (ISS) for Gulf Cooperation Council states operating fleets of the versatile transport, surveillance and rescue aircraft.
The announcement of this strategic partnership closely follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between two companies to pursue global ISS opportunities.
The Arab states of the Persian Gulf are the states which border the Persian Gulf, namely Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Except for Iraq, these nations are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium, and Airbus Military. PAL Aerospace is an international aerospace and defence company with a focus on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) solutions.
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Airbus and PAL are already partners in the two companies’ aim to secure the $3.1 billion fixed-wing-search and rescue program of the Canadian Air Force.
The goal of the FWSAR program is to replace the air force’s remaining fleet of six DeHavilland CC-115 Buffalos and relieve the air force’s fleet of CC-130 Hercules fleet of its SAR duties. Airbus is proposing its C295W aircraft as a replacement for the Buffalo and Hercules.
“We are excited to expand our existing relationship with PAL Aerospace beyond Canada’s FWSAR program into further export-oriented opportunities,” said Simon Jacques, President Airbus Defence and Space Canada. “We are fortunate that we can leverage the infrastructure and expertise that the two companies have in GCC to accomplish this objective.”
PAL Aerospace celebrated its 10th anniversary working in the GCC in 2016. Through its UAE joint venture, PAL Aerospace Services Aircraft Maintenance LLC (PAL LLC) provides comprehensive ISS support.
“From the outset, we believed our work with Airbus Defence and Space would lead to new global opportunities for our services,” said Brian Chafe, chief executive of PAL Aerospace. “What we see today reinforces that these strong ties between both of our companies will lead to sustainable, high value, export-oriented jobs for Canadians.”
Airbus has sold 169 C295 aircraft in 24 countries. The C295 team also includes a number of other prominent Canadian Companies. Pratt & Whitney Canada provides engines for every C295 in the world, CAE provides training and simulation, and L3 Wescam provides the electro/optical sensors.
