USTRANSCOM awards airlift services contract to AAR

The US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has awarded a contract to AAR to provide dedicated fixed-wing lift services to US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) throughout four Central African countries.

Under the contract, AAR Airlift Group will perform fixed-wing passenger and cargo transport services, aerial delivery services, and logistics support for allied forces.

AAR Airlift Group president and CEO Randy Martinez said, "USTRANSCOM’s issuance of this contract to AAR acknowledges our proven performance in remote and austere environments."

The USTRANSCOM is the Department of Defense’s agency responsible for the transportation, sustainment, and distribution to the nation’s warfighters and its responsibilities include the procurement of commercial transportation services for US military forces.

The unified, functional combatant command USTRANSCOM provides support to the eight other US combatant commands, the military services, defence agencies and other government organisations.

In addition to providing expeditionary airlift services in support of contingency operations worldwide, AAR operates a fleet of more than 40 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to transport personnel, supplies, and mail for the US Department of Defense in Afghanistan and the Western Pacific.

The contract has a base period of seven months and five three-month option periods and is valued at approximately $23m in revenue.