P-8 work for Australian firms

Boeing has awarded Australian companies Lovitt Technologies Australia and Ferra Engineering contracts worth almost $1.85 million to produce components for the P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

Both companies already have several contracts with Boeing through the company’s Office of Australian Industry Capacity (OAIC), within the Defence Materiel Organisation’s Global Supply Chain program. Boeing also named Ferra Engineering as its 2011 International Supplier of the Year.

Lovitt will build mission system parts and assembly fabrications for the P-8 while Ferra will manufacture airframe assemblies and parts to support various P-8 flight and mission systems.

“We’re pleased that our engagement with the OAIC has allowed us to gain traction into several Boeing defence programs, and P-8 is the latest one of these,” said Marcus Ramsay, managing director for Lovitt Technologies.

Ferra Engineering’s managing director, Mark Scherrer, commented that working closely with the OAIC had allowed it to become a more competitive. “Through the support of the OAIC, a truly global company like Ferra has been able to build long-term sustainable business with a first-choice partner like the Boeing Company.”