Richmond, Va. –
Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. David Sanford recently traveled to London were he was invited by the British Ministry of Defense to speak at the International Military Helicopter Symposium Feb. 25-27. The symposium brings together more than 200 military and industry leaders, offering a strategic forum to discuss the role of the military helicopter and how to sustain this critical capability. The forum provides a unique opportunity to look across the life cycle of the platform.
Sanford discussed his organization’s approach to sustaining the U.S. Defense Department’s fleet of approximately 4,000 helicopters. Symposium organizers also asked him to discuss current readiness support his activity provides to DOD as well as initiatives to sustain aging weapon systems, improve parts availability and actions to improve industry partnerships. Additional topics included new capabilities to integrate helicopters into battle space architecture and improve lethality.
The audience consisted of senior military leaders and primarily operators from the Ministries of Defense from Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States Army’s Program Executive Office and the Army’s Special Operations Command. Industry leaders from Boeing, Sikorsky, Leonardo, and Lockheed Martin also attended.
“Several senior military leaders from Germany and the United Kingdom stated how sustainment should be at the forefront of discussions at these symposiums and during weapons procurement but is often overlooked or underfunded to ensure programs are affordable. This results in a pay now or pay later situation,” said Sanford. “They agreed sustainment is key to operational success.”
The participants want to expand sustainment discussions for the 2021 symposium, said Sanford, who also shared his activity’s existing Captains of Industry and long-term contract initiatives as well as new efforts such as Supplier Initiated Ordering which offers opportunities to develop a push vs. pull system, turning the logistics enterprise into a proactive vs. reactive system.
“These forums are invaluable for exchanging ideas amongst allies and partner nations to sustain aging helicopter platforms as well as understand operational employment considerations to develop sustainment capabilities to overcome these new challenges.”
Sanford said he was amazed at the participation and cross talk amongst industry participants and NATO nations. With regards to developing strong partnerships, he said a French MoD member shared their challenges holding their contractors accountable and was interested in DLA Aviation performance metrics used to monitor contractor performance.
“We are going to set-up a video teleconference opportunity to discuss [the metrics] or I may ask French military personnel from their Washington embassy to travel to Richmond to discuss metrics we use to manage contracts,” said Sanford.