Boeing is in the Hunt for A-10 Repair Contract

Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., the top two U.S. defense contractors, are competing for an Air Force program valued at $1.5 billion to replace cracking wings on aging A-10 ground attack aircraft.

The contract, which calls for new wing sets on about 200 planes, would be awarded over 10 years. The Air Force plans to select a winner around March, Boeing spokeswoman Madonna Walsh said.

Boeing and Lockheed submitted their bids on Jan. 17, Walsh and Lockheed spokesman Greg Caires both said Monday.

Both companies are looking to upgrades and modernization of aging military aircraft to keep defense revenue growing as the Pentagon tightens spending on new, more expensive airplanes.

The A-10, known as the Warthog, is a low-flying ground-attack aircraft capable of maneuvering at slow speeds.

It has been used in Iraq to support troops and attack armored vehicles.

The plane, originally made by Fairchild Republic, was first delivered in 1976. The Air Force received the last A-10 in 1984.

Lockheed, based in Bethesda, Md., is bidding for the wing work with Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp., the third-largest U.S. defense company.

Boeing, based in Chicago, plans to do the A-10 work at facilities in St. Louis, Georgia and Utah if it wins the contract.

If Boeing wins the contract, the St. Louis work will employ 80 people in the first year, a number that would rise to 110 in 2009, Walsh said.

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. also may bid on the work, Boeing's Walsh said.

Spirit AeroSystems spokeswoman Sam Marnick didn't immediately return calls for comment.

Spirit is Boeing's former airframe division.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.