MEDIA RELEASE PR38717
Spirit AeroSystems Named to Boeing Tanker Supplier Team
WICHITA, Kan., Mar. 12 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) has been named to the
Boeing (NYSE: BA) NewGen Tanker Supplier Team. Boeing, Spirit's largest
customer, is bidding on the KC-X program, the U.S. Air Force's next line of
tanker aircraft.
Upon a contract award from the United States government to Boeing, Spirit
will build the Boeing tanker's forward fuselage section in Wichita, Kan.
After completion, Spirit will ship the hardware to Boeing's Everett, Wash.,
facility for final assembly.
"We're honored to continue to build quality airplane assemblies for
Boeing, and ultimately, for the United States Air Force," said Richard "Buck"
Buchanan, Spirit senior vice president and chief operations officer. "Spirit
is proud to be part of the integrated Tanker Team, and is poised and ready to
deliver world-class components to our customer."
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said, "I am pleased that the men and women of
Spirit AeroSystems will play such a significant role on the NewGen Tanker.
The Boeing/Spirit Team has a strong track record of delivering superior value
to their customers and I know they will continue this success in building the
world's finest tanker for the United States Air Force."
U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard., said, "The highly-skilled
workers and engineers at Spirit AeroSystems are among the best in the world
and will play an integral role in building the next generation of tankers. We
are moving toward a tanker contract that will stimulate the aviation industry
in Kansas and lead to even more high-quality, high-paying jobs. Spirit
workers will provide nothing but the best components for the KC-767, and that
is important for our military men and women to successfully carry out their
missions."
On March 4, Boeing announced it would offer the Boeing NewGen Tanker, an
airplane based off of the 767 platform, in the competition to supply the U.S.
Air Force with a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft that will meet all
the warfighter's mission requirements for the next several decades.
Boeing will respond to the Air Force's KC-X Request for Proposal by May
10, and the Air Force is expected to announce its decision later this year.
The contract will be for 179 new KC-X aerial refueling tankers.
About Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
Based in Wichita, Kan., Spirit AeroSystems is the world's largest
independent supplier of commercial airplane assemblies and components. In
addition to its Kansas facility, Spirit has locations in Tulsa and McAlester,
Okla.; Prestwick, Scotland; Samlesbury, England; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and
is developing new manufacturing facilities in Kinston, N.C.; and
Saint-Nazaire, France. In the U.S., Spirit's core products include fuselages,
pylons, nacelles and wing components. Additionally, Spirit provides
aftermarket customer support services, including spare parts,
maintenance/repair/overhaul, and fleet support services in North America,
Europe and Asia. Spirit Europe produces wing components for a host of
customers, including Airbus.
SOURCE: Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Lisa Conklin,
Corporate Communications of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.,
+1-316-523-2438
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