January 19 (SeeNews) - US-based security and aerospace group Lockheed Martin and Romania’s aircraft construction and repair company Aerostar [BSE:ARS] said they inaugurated Europe’s first certified S-70 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service centre in Romania’s eastern city of Bacau.
The MRO centre will increase readiness and lower operational costs for S-70 Black Hawk helicopters operated by the interior ministry while facilitating the creation of high-skilled jobs in Romania, Lockheed Martin and Aerostar said in a joint press release on Thursday.
“Having Lockheed Martin as a partner puts Aerostar in a strong position to secure more sustainment work if Romania selects Black Hawk for its military needs and to also win business in new areas such as supporting land systems too,” said Ray Piselli, vice president of international business at Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin delivered the first four S-70 Black Hawks to Romania in November 2023, with two more aircraft scheduled to arrive by the end of 2023, it said in a press release at the time. The new helicopters will conduct missions including maritime and land search and rescue, firefighting, transport, and medical emergency support.
The helicopters are being delivered under a framework agreement for a fleet of up to 12 Black Hawks, signed by Romania’s interior ministry in November 2021. The contract was worth 269 million euro ($292.7 million), a representative of the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) said at the time.
The S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopter is built at Lockheed Martin’s PZL Mielec facility in Poland and plays an important role in supporting both civil and defence needs.
Aerostar specialises in repairing and upgrading military aircraft, producing light aircraft, hydraulic equipment for aviation and piston engines as well as electronics and other specialized equipment. In August 2020, Aerostar was also designated as a provider of maintenance services for Romana’s F-16 fighter jets.
Aerostar shares traded 11.73% higher at 10 lei as at 1420 on Friday on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
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