Skyler Bernards
Top government contracts won by Airbus U.S. Space Defense, Inc. often serve the defense and space sectors. The company’s international government relations often involve providing logistics support and manufacturing equipment for specific missions.
Airbus is a defense and space contractor based in France, established in the late 1960s to match the American manufacturers. Airbus has been actively collaborating with various companies to advance its products and mature its technologies for research and development efforts.
6 Top Government Contracts Won by Airbus U.S. Space Defense, Inc.
Here are the most recent and top government contracts won by Airbus U.S. Space Defense, Inc. within the last three years:
1. U.S. Army’s Contract for Continued Logistics Support
- Contract award date: May 2022
- Contract type: Follow-on
- Contract amount: $1.5 billion
- Contracting activity: U.S. Army
- Contract duration: 6 months base period with 4.5 option years
In May 2022, Airbus secured a follow-on contract with a ceiling value of $1.5 billion with the U.S. Army. The Contractor Logistics Support contract is Airbus’s largest helicopter performance-based support contract worldwide. It holds Airbus responsible for providing spare parts, material, and engineering support for the Army’s fleet of UH-72A and UH-72 B Lakota.
There are 482 utility and training helicopters located overseas and 67 Lakota sites, including National Guard bases in 43 states and Fort Rucker in Alabama. The U.S. Army uses UH-72A and UH-72B models missions, including counter-drug operations and southwest border missions for the Army’s National Guard.
2. German Government Agency’s Contract to Build a New A400M Maintenance Facility in Wunstorf
- Contract award date: July 2023
- Contract type: Extension
- Contracting activity: The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw)
- Contract duration: 7.5 years
In July 2023, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) awarded Airbus a 7.5-year contract for the German Air Force, or Luftwaffe’s, A400M aircraft fleet in-service support. This contract extends the initial contract awarded in December 2014.
The contract extension ensures the uninterrupted industrial technical support of the German Air Force’s A400M fleet. The support includes services provided by the Airbus Support Centre at Wunstorf Air Base and the central Centres of Competence in Getafe, Spain.
Furthermore, another part of the contract is Airbus’ plan to build a new A400M maintenance facility near Wunstorf Air Base, which is expected to open by 2027.
3. European Space Agency’s Contract to Build Additional European Service Modules for NASA
- Contract award date: February 2021
- Contract type: Firm, fixed-price
- Contract amount: €650 million ($790 million)
- Contracting activity: European Space Agency
In February 2021, the European Space Agency contracted Airbus to construct three additional European Service Modules (ESM) for the Orion spacecraft. The modules ESM-4 to 6 are for the American crewed spacecraft’s Artemis program. Procuring these service modules continues NASA’s Artemis programme beyond the other three modules previously contracted with Airbus.
The European service modules serve as the powerhouse of the new Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis missions, such as the propulsion system to send the astronauts to the Moon and the resources needed to sustain their lives while on a mission.
4. Directorate General of Armaments’ Copernicus Contract
- Contract award date: March 2020
- Contract amount: Over €100 million
- Contracting activity: French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA)
- Contract duration: 10 years
In March 2020, Airbus won a 10-year contract from the French Armed Forces. As a part of the Syracuse IV programme and under the Copernicus agreement, Airbus is responsible for constructing and building a portion of the ground segment for the French Armed Forces’ telecommunications satellites. The contract’s initial phase also includes developing future satellite communications management systems for the French Ministry of Defence, Pegasus.
This portal gives the French Armed Forces convenient access to the available capacities on military and commercial satellites. Additionally, the Copernicus project’s goal is to improve the operability of Concept, the multi-satellite communications network implemented by Airbus on behalf of the French armed forces in 2017.
5. The Government of Canada’s Order of Four A330 Multirole Tanker Transport Aircraft
- Contract award date: July 2023
- Contract amount: CAD 3 billion or €2.1 billion
- Contracting activity: The Government of Canada
In July 2023, Airbus Defence and Space won an estimated €2.1 billion contract from the Government of Canada to construct Airbus A330 Multirole Tanker Transport aircraft and convert five A330-200s to enhance the nation’s continental defense capabilities. The new fleet of military aircraft, known as the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability, replaces the old CC-150 Polaris (A310 MRTT) currently used by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The contract also includes training services with state-of-the-art training devices, including the Full Flight Simulator, to ensure the crew’s preparedness and modernize the Canadian Armed Forces’ air operational training infrastructure.
6. U.S. Army’s Contract Modification to Provide Logistics Support Services for UH-72 Lakota
- Contract award date: June 2021
- Contract amount: $120 million
- Contracting activity: U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- Contract duration: 1 year
In June 2021, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense Inc. won an estimated $120 million contract to extend logistics support services for the UH-72 Lakota military helicopters. The work was performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2022. Army funds were obligated to the project.
