Kelly Aviation Center, L.P. a facility performing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft engines, signed its second partnership agreement with Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC). This new agreement, which will keep the Lockheed Martin U-2 "Dragon Lady" high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft in the air, is for Kelly to send various F118 engine components to the Air Logistics Center for repair, beginning with gearboxes.

"Expanding our partnership with OC-ALC was a logical choice for us because of their incomparable knowledge and experience in working with the B-2 engine, which utilizes the same gearbox and other components as the U-2," said John P. Wagner, Vice President and General Manager of Kelly Aviation Center. "The new partnership ensures that the mission of the U-2 is not impacted."

Previously, this work was performed by a subcontractor that is no longer in that line of business.

The new partnership agreement will also extend to repairing components of the F110 engine, which powers the F-15K "Eagle" and the F-16 "Fighting Falcon." As part of the initial partnership agreement, since 1999, Kelly has served as a public-private teaming partner with OC-ALC, repairing TF39 and T56 engines under the largest competitively won maintenance contract ever awarded by the U.S. Air Force.

Located in San Antonio, Texas, Kelly Aviation Center, L.P. is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin, GE - Aviation and Rolls-Royce. Combining OEM expertise with systems integration and support experience, Kelly is a center of excellence for military aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, providing services for engines that power the C-2 Greyhound, C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, P-3 Orion, F-16 Fighting Falcon, U-2S Dragon Lady, F-15K Eagle, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center, and the KC-10 aerial tanker.

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SOURCE: Kelly Aviation Center, L.P.; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company