BAE Systems joins Vertex in USMC Harrier support contract

BAE Systems and Vertex Aerospace have signed a nine-year agreement to enhance availability of the AV-8B Harrier II/II+ fleet operated by the USMC.

Vertex provides aircraft maintenance and contractor logistics support (CLS) services for the USMC Harrier fleet, under a $123 million Contracted Maintenance, Modification, Aircrew, and Related Services task order issued by the USN in July 2020.

Some 120 Harriers remain in USMC service out of the 200 originally ordered, according to Shephard Defence Insight.

Vertex selected BAE Systems as a subcontractor for the CLS contract. Together, the two partners ‘will ensure increased efficiency of maintenance operations for the Harrier fleet using predictive maintenance techniques and smart stock optimisation tools’, BAE Systems noted in a 12 January announcement.

BAE Systems already maintains the reaction control system on the AV-8B Harrier and it also provides engineering and technical support for the aircraft.

Engineers from BAE Systems will work alongside Vertex and the USMC at three locations in the US. They will be supported by a specialist team in the UK.

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Related Equipment in Defence Insight

AV-8B Harrier II/ II+