Aerospace & Defense MRO
The U.S. Aerospace & Defense industry is the world’s leader in the design, production and technology of space, aircraft and other defense technologies. The primary objective of the Aerospace & Defense Industry is to provide the necessary tools, materials and equipment to support the aerospace activities of the nation. The largest U.S. Aerospace & Defense contractors include Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Textron and United Technologies. Aerospace & Defense is a key driver of the economic framework of the U.S., contributing over three percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing more than two million people in all fields of operation. A&D in the U.S. supports both national and international endeavors for the security of our nation and partners around the globe.
The Aerospace & Defense industry employs over two million people in the United States and provides a large number of opportunities for graduates and post-graduates. This is a place where the A&D professionals can develop their technical skills and learn from experienced mentors. It also provides opportunity for young people to find work after completing college to establish their career or to progress into an advanced degree. The aerospace & defense industry also offers both short-term contractual jobs and long-term recruitment services to meet the needs of the employers.
The Aerospace & Defense industry is a key force behind pandemic preparedness. Pandemic preparedness helps to reduce the vulnerability of the American population to illnesses that are spread by airborne pathogens. A&D works in the area of aerospace, which uses aircraft to transport personnel and supplies to military bases, to help prevent illnesses and to protect the public from epidemics. For example, the Air Force has prepared a biological weapons facility to counter the emergence and spread of anthrax. The Navy and the Marine Corps have similarly created biological warfare training centers. These are the primary elements of the military’s pandemic preparedness.
The aerospace & defense MRO is responsible for procuring aircraft and other hardware for military aircraft, support, maintenance, and storage. Contractors also purchase material and perform long-term leases. It must be ensured that the materiel acquired meets the requirements and is able to withstand rigorous conditions. A&D MROs are primarily involved in procuring medium and large-scale capital equipment and re-supply programs for the executive branch. These firms also provide for the operation and support of government networks, acquisitions, integration and technology transfer activities.
Long-term contracts are a major facet of the aerospace & defense MRO. Contracts generally include long-term construction, support, and maintenance contracts for vehicles, facilities, equipment and technology. Some of the aircraft MROs incorporate a value chain approach and a build-or-buy program. Value chains involve producing aircraft on-site before leasing or purchasing them, while build-or-buy provides flexibility for suppliers to purchase components on an as-needed basis.
A military MRO should include a full range of services to include maintenance, repair, customization, training and technology transfer. Additionally, the MRO should have the ability to conduct fiscal operations. The covid-19 pandemic preparation program for civil aircraft begins with a contract specification and develops a production cadre, facility and service support specifications. Contract support involves providing fiscal management, technical support, and warehousing for aircraft inventory management.
It is important for an aerospace MRO to consider all the functions necessary for sustaining a military or civil aircraft. This includes financial services, material management, and production processes. The goal of an aerospace MRO is to reduce acquisition cost while maintaining quality and ensuring a first-class service. A defense MRO also manages the construction and capabilities of the entire fleet.
Contractors must have the ability to enter into an MRO agreement to procure the parts they need on an as-needed basis. Contractors must have the ability to upgrade manufacturing equipment on an as-needed or stand-down basis when needed. Contractors must be able to sustain tens of thousands of aircraft if a major combat system failure occurs. MROs can be used for aerospace programs such as the F-22, EA-18 Growler, stealthy unmanned aerial vehicles, tactical helicopters, ground vehicle platforms and space systems. There is a great deal of work that goes into making an effective aerospace MRO.