Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Mississippi, is awarded a $9,918,884 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract. This modification exercises an option to provide organizational and intermediate depot maintenance, logistics and supply support for three KC-130J aircraft for the government of Kuwait. Work will be performed in Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in August 2022. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $9,918,884 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Kuwait Air Force’s KC-130J tanker deliveries completed in early 2014. Using only wing and external tanks, the KC-130J has a 57,500 pound fuel offload capability. The KC-130J is configured to accept a fuselage tank, adding another 24,392 pounds of available fuel. The standard probe-and-drogue configuration of the KC-130J is suited for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. In addition to aerial and ground refueling, the KC-130J has the same airlift capability as non-tanker variants – including airdrop and paradrop.The KC-130Js provide aerial refueling for its F18 fleet and augment its current airlift fleet of three Lockheed Martin L-100s.
The Lockheed Martin (previously Lockheed) KC-130 is a family of the extended-range tanker version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft modified for aerial refueling. The KC-130J is the latest variant operated by the United States Marine Corps (USMC), with 48 delivered out of 79 ordered. The KC-130J offers a 27,215 kg (60,000 lb) fuel capacity that it can allocate between its own flight requirements against aerial refueling offload capacity using its wing and external tanks while in the air. When more fuel is needed, an additional 11,064 kg (24,392 lb) of fuel can be offloaded from a specially configured internal fuselage 13,627 L (3,600-gallon) aluminum fuel tank.
Headquartered in Madison, Mississippi, Vertex Aerospace LLC is a global aerospace company that operates in over 100 locations worldwide. Vertex provides rotary and fixed-wing aircraft maintenance and logistical solutions for government and private sector customers. Vertex’s Aircraft Integration & Sustainment (AIS) division is a leader in aircraft and aerostructures Maintenance, Modification, Repair, & Overhaul (MMRO), assembly services, systems integration engineering, and technical and supply-chain support for government and commercial customers. The company is a strong military supporter and has a 50% veteran employee rate.
