Defence

StandardAero and RNLAF seal F135 engine lease and service agreements

Posted 11 November 2020

StandardAero together with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) announced today the next milestone in a long-term Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) partnership in The Netherlands with the signing of F135 engine lease and services agreements.

Above: The first landing of the F-35 for the RNLAF on Leeuwarden airbase (31.10.19).
Image By Johan C. op den Dries / Copyright Shutterstock

The lease agreement with the Netherlands Central Government Real Estate Agency (RVB) provides all necessary facilities for F135 module MRO&U, including a dedicated engine test stand. The services agreement with the RNLAF provides all necessary equipment for F135 module MRO including highly skilled technician personnel from the RNLAF as well as other key functions such as engineering to perform MRO operations under the operational management of StandardAero.

This capability, at the Logistics Center Woensdrecht (LCW), is an example of the successful alignment of public and industry interests.

Marc Drobny, President of StandardAero’s Military and Energy division, said: “StandardAero is very proud to work in partnership with the State of the Netherlands, executing on the ambition that was formulated many years ago.

“Together with many stakeholders, the partners aim to provide best value propulsion MRO services to the worldwide fleet of F-35 fifth generation fighter aircraft. This new partnership will retain high skilled engine MRO&U professionals while the RNLAF is decommissioning its F-16 fleet and introducing the state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jet into its inventory.

"The milestone that is reached today lays the foundation for further growth towards development and implementation of complex repair procedures bringing new jobs to the LCW and to the local community.”