The U.S. Air Force has awarded BAE Systems plc a $25 million contract to help manage obsolete parts for aircraft, weapon systems, and a range of electronics and equipment. The contract builds on the company's expertise and leadership in the field of obsolescence management, a prevalent need amid shrinking defense budgets. BAE Systems' AVCOM helps the Air Force track and plan for obsolete parts in F-16s and other aircraft, as well as a range of equipment, electronics and systems. To perform this work, BAE Systems will utilize its suite of tools and services called AVCOM (Advanced Component Obsolescence Management).

At its core, AVCOM is a web-enabled tool that allows government and commercial customers to forecast when a part will become obsolete or too expensive, and then finds suitable replacements for that part from across the marketplace. With a database accessing more than 100 million parts, the tool can deliver significant savings for the total cost of a system or platform, by efficiently resolving difficult obsolescence issues. With four tiers of service, AVCOM is specially designed for a variety of needs and budgets-from inexpensive, small-scale projects to large-scale, complex requirements.

The BAE Systems team also offers the experience and expertise necessary to establish a complete obsolescence management program. Customers are supported by an array of uniquely skilled U.S. technicians, logisticians and component engineers, backed by a talented staff of database managers, application developers and software engineers. AVCOM has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense for its quality, service and performance.

The tool is frequently distinguished for its delivery of extensive obsolescence management functionality, and it has been recognized for supporting the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command and other defense contractors. This new contract includes a one-year base plus a one-year option. The work will be managed at the BAE Systems facility in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Additional work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; and Robins Air Force Base, Ga.