FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — January 16, 2013 — The U.S. Air Force has awarded BAE Systems a $25 million contract to help manage obsolete parts for aircraft, weapon systems, and a range of electronics and equipment. The contract builds on the company’s expertise and leadership in the field of obsolescence management, a prevalent need amid shrinking defense budgets.

BAE Systems' AVCOM helps the Air Force track and plan for obsolete parts in F-16s and other aircraft, as well as a range of equipment, electronics and systems. (Photo: BAE Systems)

“The Air Force and other customers are looking now more than ever to maintain and extend the life of aircraft and systems,” said Gordon Eldridge, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Solutions at BAE Systems. “They can never assume that the parts that were used years ago are still available, or will be available in the future. We offer an accurate, reliable and affordable solution to track and plan for obsolete parts.”

To perform this work, BAE Systems will utilize its award-winning suite of tools and services called AVCOM (Advanced Component Obsolescence Management). At its core, AVCOM is a web-enabled tool that allows government and commercial customers to forecast when a part will become obsolete or too expensive, and then finds suitable replacements for that part from across the marketplace. With a database accessing more than 100 million parts, the tool can deliver significant savings for the total cost of a system or platform, by efficiently resolving difficult obsolescence issues.

With four tiers of service, AVCOM is specially designed for a variety of needs and budgets — from inexpensive, small-scale projects to large-scale, complex requirements. The BAE Systems team also offers the experience and expertise necessary to establish a complete obsolescence management program. Customers are supported by an array of uniquely skilled U.S. technicians, logisticians and component engineers, backed by a talented staff of database managers, application developers and software engineers.

AVCOM has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense for its quality, service and performance. The tool is frequently distinguished for its delivery of extensive obsolescence management functionality, and it has been recognized for supporting the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command and other defense contractors.

This new contract includes a one-year base plus a one-year option. The work will be managed at the BAE Systems facility in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Additional work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; and Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

The Aerospace Solutions business of BAE Systems, based in Fort Walton Beach, provides a full spectrum of services to extend the life and readiness of aviation, aerospace and avionics platforms. These services include depot-level support; facility operations and maintenance; obsolescence management; and aircraft maintenance, upgrade and modification programs. With more than 1,600 employees positioned around the world, Aerospace Solutions delivers world-class products and services that enable every customer to achieve ultimate mission success, every time.

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