Aerospace Support, an integrated organization structured to provide total life-cycle customer support, develops and delivers a full continuum of innovative products and services to reduce life-cycle costs and increase effectiveness of aircraft and missile systems fielded around the globe.

More than 13,000 Aerospace Support people work at about 130 locations worldwide. Aerospace Support relies on visionary leadership – from each teammate – to achieve customer satisfaction and provide world-class sustainment solutions to its customers around the world.

“As the cost and sophistication of modern military platforms increases and defense budgets are continually under pressure, customers are looking for ways to get more from their investments while increasing the effectiveness of the systems they already have,” said David Spong, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Support. “They want system support and improved effectiveness at the most affordable cost.”

The key challenges faced by military services around the world are readiness, affordability and increased operations tempo. Tight budgets mean existing aerospace platforms and systems must remain in service much longer than originally expected. The B-52 Stratofortress, for example, entered the Air Force inventory in 1954 and has most recently served in Operation Enduring Freedom. The Air Force expects the B-52 to continue flying until 2040.

Aging fleets and high operations tempo come with a price, however. Maintenance costs tend to rise, fleet availability decreases, and obtaining out-of-production spare parts becomes expensive and difficult. Platforms also need upgrades to keep them relevant in today’s integrated battlespace.

Boeing addresses those needs through an approach called Life Cycle Customer Support (LCCS). These innovative, tailored support packages are focused on reducing costs and boosting effectiveness over the entire life cycle of an aircraft or weapon system. LCCS represents an integrated “through-life” approach to supporting aircraft and weapon systems. It contrasts with the stand-alone, silo-based way support products and services have been procured by the military and historically provided by industry.

In general, the design, development and production of a military aircraft system make up only about 30 percent of a government’s total ownership cost. The overwhelming 70 percent of total cost is sustainment and support from program planning and data management, through training, technical manuals, spare parts and support equipment, to maintenance, modifications, upgrades and other aging aircraft initiatives.

“That 70 percent is where Aerospace Support focuses our full continuum of support competencies and resources, along with our skilled people worldwide,” Spong said. “Bringing to bear the strengths of The Boeing Company in total, we can apply the best of commercial technologies and practices, along with unmatched military aerospace expertise, to provide preeminent quality, affordable support for an incredible range of military aircraft and other combat and aerospace systems. ”