LONDON, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has won a contract to repair a British Sentry ED-3 aircraft damaged during a storm.
Northrop Grumman said in a statement Friday that it had "been awarded a contract from the Ministry of Defense's Sentry Integrated Project Team -- IPT -- for the repair of a Sentry E-3D aircraft, which suffered significant structural and electrical system damage during a severe storm."
"Work will be performed under Northrop Grumman's existing Sentry E-3D Whole Life Support Program -- WLSP. Northrop Grumman will deliver to challenging time, performance and cost targets, with the aircraft due to be returned to service with the RAF in November 2008," the company said.
"The complexities of this repair will fully challenge our team," said John Parker, Northrop Grumman program director for the British WLSP. "I am confident that based on the performance we have demonstrated to date, the Joint Sentry Support team will deliver a successful outcome to this demanding repair, on cost and within schedule."
"The repair will involve the replacement of four aircraft frames, which were crushed in the storm, and a major aircraft skin. In addition, a fuel system gallery and main electrical distribution panel were damaged. The structural aspects of the repair and the electrical elements represent a considerable challenge," the company said.
"Under the WLSP we are building a record of success in maintaining high availability for this strategically important fleet of aircraft," said Graham Thornton, managing director of Northrop Grumman UK. "The close partnering relationship that has been developed by our joint industry team and the Ministry of Defense will ensure the speedy return to service of this aircraft."
Northrop Grumman said it would be producing the WLSP for the Sentry E-3D Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, fleet and that it was "on contract until 2025."
The company said it was "the design organization, providing long term (British)-based technical support to the program with some 50-engineers located at RAF Waddington."
Northrop Grumman said it "also provides the radar and in-service support for the radar and is the systems integrator for the replacement mission system."
