$400m Lockheed order for GKN

This $400 million, five year contract brings the total value of GKN Aerospace work on the C-103J to over $800 million, and takes the company’s contribution to the programme into its 20th year. GKN Aerospace CEO Marcus Bryson said that as a result of a team effort at GKN Aerospace and along its entire supply chain, the company had been able to offer Lockheed Martin improved efficiencies and even greater cost effectiveness in the five-year work package. “We are now approaching delivery of our 700th nacelle for this highly successful aircraft and expect to be nearing double that number by 2013,” he said. GKN Aerospace has been the sole source provider of the integrated nacelle for the C-130J since it’s inception in 1993, having been a leading member of the UK industrial support group and responsible for the design change from the C-130H nacelle system to the C-130J. The company is currently completing a five-year contract, awarded in 2003, following successful completion of shorter-term contracts covering the first 10 years of the programme. This initial five-year contract represented one of the first examples of an award of this type of long-term contract in the aerospace sector. The new contract runs from Jan 2009 until December 2013. First deliveries will take place in January 2009 and GKN Aerospace anticipates delivering nacelles at a rate of around 10 per month until the end of 2013. The C-130J integrated nacelle includes the engine mounting structure, lower pan, scoop, doors and air inlet and also contains all the associated fluid systems including bleed air ducting, fuel, hydraulic and anti-ice systems. GKN Aerospace delivers the nacelle fully assembled with a majority of these systems installed. Lockheed Martin then installs the engine and finishes the systems integration with GKN Aerospace furnished products.