Mubadala announces venture with Sikorsky

Dubai: Mubadala Aerospace said its subsidiary Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) has formed a joint venture with Sikorsky Aerospace to create a AMMROC - a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for the region’s growing military aircraft fleet.

While ADAT has developed civil MRO capabilities, AMMROC will help Mubadala to offer the same facility for fighter jets.

Humaid Al Shemmary, Executive Director for Mubadala Aerospace and Chairman of ADAT, told Gulf News, "AMMROC will fulfil a gap in the aviation maintenance industry."

Military work makes up a growing 15 per cent of ADAT's revenues, and this will now be enhanced by the joint venture.

"We started looking for a partner for a joint venture partner for MRO business in 2007 for military equipments and fighter jets. Finally we decided on Sikorsky," Shemmari said adding that the new facility will take between 18 to 24 months to build and could employ in the region of 1,000 professionals.

"Once we fulfil our national requirements, we will expand capabilities to support the other Gulf countries in MRO services," he said.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of military and commercial helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, spare parts and maintenance, repair and overhaul services for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft; and civil helicopter operations.

Immigrant Igor Sikorsky established The Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation in 1925 on Long Island, New York and the company later became The Sikorsky Aviation Corporation. In 1929, Igor purchased land in Stratford, Connecticut, and the company became a subsidiary and later a division of United Aircraft Corporation, which evolved into United Technologies Corporation in 1975.

Sikorsky helicopters have saved an estimated two million lives since performing the world's first helicopter rescue in 1944.