478th AESW Wins SecDef 2008 Logistics Award

(Washington, August 25, 2008) -- Defense Department officials announced Aug. 6 that the 478th Aeronautical Systems Wing was named the winner of the Secretary of Defense System Level Performance-Based Logistics Award.

The wing, which directs all acquisition and sustainment activities for the F-22 Raptor, is part of the aeronautical systems center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The award recognizes the unit with the best strategy to improve weapon system readiness through performance-based logistics contracting with weapons system manufacturers and the Air Force's three air logistics centers. The 478th AESW demonstrated outstanding achievements in providing warfighters with exceptional operational capabilities.

The 478th AESW, together with the 77th AESW, pursued the Air Force and DoD-directed effort. The team developed a ten-year, weapon system level, sole source performance-based agreement. The arrangement incorporates significant public-private partnering with the F-22 manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and the F-119 engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney. Innovative teaming and process management resulted in the first F-22 stand-alone sustainment contracts worth $1.5B, for calendar years 2008 and 2009, which led to the highest readiness rates in the program's history.

Through ingenious application of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, the team drastically shortened the standard 18-month proposal process to ten months. The team drove an agreement for a 20 percent improvement in aircraft availability, which equates to seven additional F-22s in warfighters' hands. Additionally, the team delivered an amazing 15 percent improvement in mission capable rates, while repair rates saw impressive results with a 20 percent reduction in time. For the warfighter, the team overcame monumental obstacles to accelerate the activation of the F-22 unit at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska by a full two years.

"The award is a huge win for the 478th, the air logistics centers, contractors and aeronautical systems center. It's an even more significant and enabling win for our warfighters, providing them with better ability to fly, fight and win," said Thomas Severyn, director, 478th AESW.

Source : US Air Force

Recent News from US Air Force

• Kirtland Officials Accelerate Space-Based Program Testing [Space] [Defence] [ Mon 24 Nov 2008 ]
• Research Into Flies' Hearing Could Aid UAS Program [Defence] [ Fri 21 Nov 2008 ]
• Arnold Engineers Test Army Weapon to Evaluate its Capability [Defence] [ Wed 19 Nov 2008 ]
• The 'Hog' Drops in on History [Defence] [ Tue 18 Nov 2008 ]
• Edwards Test Squadron Test Drives Global Hawk [Defence] [ Thu 13 Nov 2008 ]
• Navy Pilots Learning to Fly Global Hawk [Defence] [ Tue 11 Nov 2008 ]
• Vandenberg Officials Launch Minuteman III Missile [Defence] [ Fri 7 Nov 2008 ]