PARIS, June 21 (UPI) -- Iraqi Air Force planes purchased from Beechcraft through a U.S. Foreign Military Sales deal are to continue to receive company logistics support.
Beechcraft, headquartered in Kansas, said it has been awarded a 28-month contract extension for the services, which were part of the original deal for six King Air 350 aircraft.
The Iraqi Air Force uses the planes for border surveillance, monitoring insurgent activity and patrol of critical infrastructure assets.
"The multi-year extension of this support contract is a result of the exceptional value the in-country GMS team is providing the Iraq Air Force," said Jay Gibson, vice president of Beechcraft Global Mission Support. "Our team's high quality service is further supported by the U.S. government issuing the company an 'Exceptional' rating on its 2012 Contractor Performance Report and describing the Peace Dragon maintenance training program as a 'Model for Iraq.'"
Beechcraft's GMS team in Iraq -- 15 personnel -- operates a Contractor Operated Maintenance Base Supply warehouse, providing a cost-per-flight-hour service, including training of maintenance technicians.
The monetary value of the extension, announced at the Paris Air Show, was not disclosed.
