ACCaP Program: Lockheed Martin signs new agreements with Belgian companies.

Sabena Aerospace and Ignition! hosted a ceremonial event with Lockheed Martin recognizing Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) which develop further long-term partnerships for sustainment and training services, the Belgian aerospace company stated on January 23, 2018.

Lockheed Martin, Ignition! and Sabena Aerospace signing new MoAs on January 23, 2018
(Credit: Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin’s Essential Security Interests (ESI) provisions extend a core element of Sabena Aerospace’s business in the coming decades. These provisions include the extension of sustainment services for Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules and will further enable Sabena Aerospace’s growth into international markets and other models.

“We are very excited to strengthen our collaboration with Lockheed Martin. We believe it to be important to Belgium and its economy. Lockheed Martin’s ESI provisions support the continuity and the development of our operations, critical to Sabena Aerospace’s strategy for growth, while retaining a talented workforce," Stéphane Burton, CEO of Sabena Aerospace, declared.

In 2017, the Group Sonaca and Sabena Aerospace united their expertise to serve the defense industry and founded the company Ignition!. This company aims to offer innovative services in the field of military aeronautics, in Belgium and abroad.

The MoA between Ignition! and Lockheed Martin identifies partnerships in the areas of logistics including management of fleet, spare parts, ground equipment, aircraft repairs and equipment upgrades; equipment and aircraft maintenance, mainly on military bases; and the training of pilots and technicians.

“The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement today is an important step forward, which demonstrates that Lockheed Martin is considering Ignition! as a trustworthy partner. We hope to progress rapidly with Ignition!, but also with the Sonaca group, to sign more firm engagements, in the near future. These engagements are a right step to materialize our collaboration with Lockheed Martin with the F-35 offering, which supports the replacement of the F- 16,” Bernard Delvaux, co-Founder Ignition! and Group Sonaca CEO, said.

Lockheed Martin’s Essential Security Interests’ propositions associated with the F-35 proposal will create credible competitive opportunities for Ignition! in the fields of maintenance, logistics, Fleet management and training services.

“We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Sabena Aerospace and Ignition. These are two of the key Belgian aerospace companies that provide best-value solutions in sustainment and training," Gregory Day, F-35 Belgium Business Development from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, stated.

After a relatively slow start, Lockheed Martin is now multiplying the efforts to promote the F-35 Lightning II, one of the three contenders proposed to replace the Belgian Air Force remaining F-16 fighter jets. The US defense giant is also about to sign new Memorandum of Understanding with ASCO Industries, based near Brussels, and Belgian Engine Center (BEC), in Liège.

Last week, the US State Department approved Lockheed Martin's proposal for 34 F-35A CTOL fighter jets, along with 38 Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines, training systems, and other related elements for an estimated cost of US$6.53 billion.