Northrop Grumman has concluded its purchase of Qantas Defence Services, the unit that provides support to the Royal Australian Air Force’s A330 multi-role tanker transports (MRTT).

The unit will be renamed Northrop Grumman Integrated Defence Services (IDS) and be part of Northrop Grumman Australia, says the US defence contractor in a statement.

"Northrop Grumman IDS enhances our in-country footprint and local capabilities, and demonstrates our commitment to the Australian and regional defence markets,” says Ian Irving, chief executive of Northrop Grumman for Australia.

“We expect this to be an important platform for international growth in our key focus areas of unmanned, cyber, C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), and logistics and modernization."

Northrop provided no details about the terms of the transaction.

In addition to its A330 MRTT work, the unit provides operational logistics services for the Australian government's VIP aircraft, and engine overhaul services for the Lockheed Martin Orion P-3 and BAE Systems Hawk lead-in fighter trainer.

Northrop Grumman IDS, which has more than 300 employees in facilities throughout Australia, also offers engineering consultancy services to maritime customers such as the Royal Australian Navy. In 2013 it was awarded a contract to refurbish Indonesia's Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

Source: FlightGlobal.com

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