Boeing Receives A-10 Structural Inspection Contract from US Air Force

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 29, 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to supply airframe services and support for the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft fleet. The A-10 Scheduled Structural Inspection (SSI) 2012 contract covers development tasks and hardware deliveries in support of the Air Force Depot's implementation of A-10 SSI fuselage repairs. The two-year contract is valued at $5.7 million.

Boeing will plan all details of the repairs, including processes, tooling, work instructions, quality assurance, and training materials. Boeing also will repair prototype fuselages before training Air Force personnel and supporting the service's repairs on operational aircraft. All operational repair activity will be performed by the Air Force at current A-10 depots.

"Boeing appreciates the confidence the Air Force has in our ability to continue to ensure that the A-10 Thunderbolt II is viable now and into the future," said Steve Waltman, director of Aircraft Sustainment & Maintenance, a subdivision of Boeing Global Services & Support’s Maintenance, Modifications & Upgrades division.

This is the fourth competitive A-10 Thunderbolt Life-Cycle Program Support Task/Delivery Order contract the Air Force has awarded to Boeing, in addition to the $2 billion A-10 Wing Replacement Program (WRP) in June 2007. The WRP program includes engineering services and the manufacture of up to 242 A-10 wing sets.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, was first introduced into the Air Force inventory in 1976. The twin-engine aircraft provides close-air support of ground forces and employs a wide variety of conventional munitions, including general-purpose bombs. The simple, effective and survivable single-seat aircraft can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. The aircraft is currently supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.