Wichita, Kansas

Textron Aviation wins $100m US Army contract to sell turboprops to partner nations

IDIQ for special missions Cessna SkyCouriers, Cessna Caravans and Beechcraft King Air turboprops

Textron Aviation announced it has been awarded a contract by the US Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL, for Cessna SkyCourier, Cessna Grand Caravan EX, Beechcraft King Air 360 and Beechcraft King Air 260 turboprop aircraft in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract allows up to $100m US dollars for the acquisition of Textron Aviation aircraft over a five-year period.

Special Mission King Air 360.

The initial award is for three King Air 360 Extended Range (KA360ER) aircraft, of which two are destined for the Peruvian Naval Aviation Force (Fuerza de Aviación Naval) and one for the Ecuadorian Naval Aviation (Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana).

Beechcraft King Air 260.

“This IDIQ aligns with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent tasking memo directing improvement and acceleration of DOD’s institutional processes to execute FMS cases," said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales for Textron Aviation.

"It will provide highly capable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) aircraft that can be equipped with COTS releasable technology, and it will accelerate acquisition and contracting timelines from many months or years to weeks.

“We are honored the US Army created this multiyear IDIQ contract with Textron Aviation, which provides the ability to rapidly procure COTS aircraft and modification for FMS allies and partner nations.”

All three of the initial King Air turboprops awarded will perform maritime patrol to enforce the sovereignty of Peru and Ecuador over their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).