Textron Aviation has clinched a contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL, earmarking Cessna SkyCourier, Cessna Grand Caravan EX, Beechcraft King Air 360, and Beechcraft King Air 260 turboprop aircraft to support Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract boasts a ceiling of $100 million over five years, facilitating the acquisition of Textron Aviation aircraft.
In its initial phase, the contract focuses on three King Air 360 Extended Range (KA360ER) aircraft, with two designated for the Peruvian Naval Aviation Force (Fuerza de Aviación Naval) and one allocated to the Ecuadorian Naval Aviation (Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana).
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“This IDIQ aligns with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent directive to streamline and expedite the Department of Defense’s processes in executing FMS cases. It aims to provide highly capable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) aircraft that can integrate COTS releasable technology, significantly truncating acquisition and contracting timelines from months or years to mere weeks,” stated Bob Gibbs, Textron Aviation’s vice president of Special Mission Sales.
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The multiyear IDIQ contract forged with Textron Aviation by the U.S. Army underscores a commitment to swiftly procure COTS aircraft and facilitate modifications for FMS allies and partner nations.
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All three initially awarded King Air turboprops are slated for maritime patrol duties, bolstering the sovereign enforcement of Peru and Ecuador within their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).
