RIYADH, 9 December 2002 — BAE Systems has announced that Jeddah-based Aircraft Accessories and Components Company (AACC) will undertake the repair and overhaul of components for Tornado and Hawk fighter aircraft in collaboration with BAE Systems. The final customer will be the Royal Saudi Air Force.
“We are very pleased that AACC is going to take over the repair and overhaul of these components,” Abdulhai Bassri, project director of BAE Systems‚ in-Kingdom programs team, told Arab News. He said the award of the engineering contract to AACC comes within the framework of the Al-Yamamah Saudi Offset Program.
Abdulhai, a Saudi engineer who spent 34 years in the Royal Saudi Air Force, said AACC would repair critical items for RSAF. To be able to have them repaired and returned to service using a Saudi company is a very encouraging development.”
The project, which includes overhaul of pressure cylinders for oxygen supply on Tornados and Hawks, and fuel cells on Tornado aircraft, is part of a BAE Systems’ program to transfer technology to Saudi companies.
He said AACC is currently being trained by foreign producers of the components, known as Original Equipment Manufacturers. These companies are Continental Fuel Cells of Germany, which will transfer the fuel cell repair work, and NGL Honeywell and Chesterfield Cylinders, which will transfer the pressure cylinder overhaul.
It is expected that fuel cell repair will start in early 2003 and overhaul of the pressure cylinders in the first half of next year.
“AACC is already handling the repair of aircraft propellers for the Pilatus PC-9 training aircraft for us, but this move into engineering for fast jets is very important. Apart from announcing the transfer of this work to AACC, we are also in discussion with the company for the repair of other components, including jackscrews and main landing gears,” Abdulhai said, adding: “BAE Systems’ intention is to transfer as much engineering to firms in Saudi Arabia as possible.”
Al-Salam Aircraft Company, a Riyadh-based Saudi offset company, has carried out the main strip-down maintenance of Tornado aircraft since 1996. Abdulhai said the priority is to get a four-way agreement before any such work could be transferred.
“A commitment is required from a Saudi company to work within accepted price, quality and time horizons. The Royal Saudi Air Force has to approve the price and quality parameters, and the original manufacturer of the component has to agree to provide training, tooling, technical designs and spare parts,” Abdulhai said.
According to Mike Glover of the communications department, BAE Systems‚ agreement to fund the transfer is in the final stage. We have a strong commitment to arrange such work to be carried out in the Kingdom involving, as it does, transfer of technology, expertise and income to Saudi firms.”
BAE Systems, formerly known as British Aerospace, is the prime contractors for the Al-Yamamah Project, which provides support to branches of Saudi armed forces. The company employs 5,500 people in the Kingdom, of whom 2,500 are Saudis, making it one of the largest foreign employers of Saudi nationals.
