Serco to continue supporting RAF Hercules
Image courtesy Serco
Serco’s team of Propulsion, Airframe and Electrical Technicians repair the AE2100 engine for the C130J Hercules, as well as its attached components such as fuel pumps, oil pumps, engine control units and the engine nacelles. In addition, its logistics specialists support the operation of the Hercules aircraft and the repair of the AE2100 engine for Rolls-Royce. The team handles all AE2100 engines or spare parts for the UK’s Hercules fleet on base or liaise with engine maker Rolls-Royce for repair in North America.
Last year, Serco Propulsion Technicians performed 34 Quick Engine Change Assemblies and repaired seven AE2100 engines for the C130J Hercules, whilst Serco logistics specialists processed c.6,000 spares for the AE2100 engine.
Commenting on the contract extension, Keith Hillas, Interim Managing Director of Serco’s UK defence business, said: “We are proud that Serco is trusted to provide complex specialist engineering, logistical and operational support to the UK’s military aircraft, including the RAF Hercules fleet, where many of our team have been involved in the maintenance of the Rolls-Royce aircraft engines for over 25 years.
"Our highly skilled engineers provide jet engine maintenance on RAF frontline fighter aircraft, in addition to engineering support for vehicles, transport aircraft and helicopters of the Royal Navy and Royal Airforce. We help to ensure operational readiness in deployed and support situations on military bases across the UK.”
The Serco team at RAF Brize Norton will provide propulsion system support until March 2023 when the C130-J Hercules aircraft is anticipated to retire from service.
Serco engineering
The Hercules work forms part of a wider portfolio of engineering work that Serco undertakes for the RAF and the RN: Serco’s team of 50 aircraft engineers and logistics specialists delivers Propulsion Operations support for the EJ200 Typhoon engine, C130J Hercules AE2100 engine and Chinook Honeywell T55 engine. Serco's team of c.280 aeronautical engineers undertake all depth maintenance for the Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopter fleet, as well as the Wildcat helicopter engines.
Typhoon – EJ200 engine
Serco engine propulsion technicians and logistic asset controllers based at RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth repair the EJ200 Typhoon engines on base, repairing 35 engines last year, or work with engine maker Rolls-Royce to replace them. Serco's team handle all EJ200 engines or spare parts for the UK’s Typhoon fleet, preparing the engines and parts to be transported to wherever the Typhoon aircraft are operating globally.
Chinook – Honeywell T55 engine
At RAF Odiham, Serco’s team of Propulsion Technicians and electricians receive Honeywell T55 engines from Boeing in North America, prepare them to fit into the Chinook and conduct repairs onsite where possible.
Decommissioning RB199 – Tornado engine
Since the Tornado aircraft was retired from RAF service in March 2019, a Serco team of Propulsion Technicians and logisticians based at RAF Marham has supported the RAF to decommission the RB199 Tornado engine. This deactivation contract handles all RB199 engines, spares and support equipment for disposal. Work involves receiving equipment, inspecting it for future use and then either packaging it up to send to new customers or preparing the engine for final disposal.
Wildcat – Maritime Attack Helicopter
At RNAS Yeovilton, Serco aircraft engineers support the Royal Navy Wildcat fleet through servicing aircraft batteries, welding aircraft parts, washing aircraft and repairing and maintaining support equipment used by the squadrons.
Merlin Helicopter
The Serco team of over 300 people based at RNAS Culdrose and RNAS Yeovilton undertakes all depth maintenance for the RN’s Merlin fleet (including MK2, MK3, MK3A and the newest MK4 engines), maintain the ground support equipment, support with refuelling and carry out Intermediate Maintenance Packages (IMPs).
