As platforms age, OEM support for sustainment diminishes and end-users tasked with maintaining operational readiness are faced with critical supply chain deficits. Kellstrom Defense offers its military customer base legacy aircraft solutions that address these shortfalls. We are a global provider of comprehensive support for U.S. manufactured legacy defense platforms including fighters, transports, patrol aircraft, and helicopters.
Systems Supported
Distribution
Kellstrom Defense is a stocking distributor of US Department of Defense and OEM approved components. Agreements with key industry partners to support this platform, including OEMs and manufacturers, play a vital role in the company’s commitment to its "Total Support" approach to legacy platform sustainment. Kellstrom Defense has identified the major 707 & Derivatives (KC-135/E-8/E-6/E-3) distribution channel deficits and partnered with providers to bridge that gap. We collaborate with OEMs, manufacturers and Customers to establish and maintain availability for a broad range of components.
MRO
In-house Repair Capabilities
Kellstrom Defense owns and operates an FAA-approved and Honeywell and AMETEK certified repair station specializing in the complete repair and overhaul of Accessory Class III, Instrument Class I, II, III, and IV products, as well as various instruments in support of U.S. manufactured, legacy military aircraft.
Capabilities extend beyond repairs to include:
- Tooling development
- Engineering design
- Fabrication
Components include, but are not limited to:
- Instruments
- Hydraulics
- Pneumatics
- Fuels
- Landing gear
- Wheels and brakes
- APU
- Mechanical accessories
- Electro-mechanical accessories
Repair Management: Leveraging in-house capabilities and qualified network of resources
Kellstrom Defense offers a full spectrum of repair capabilities to its customers.
Our dedicated group of experts have a combined experience of over seventy years in the aviation industry. We have established strategic alliances with Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service centers around the world.
Advantages associated with a single point repair management solution:
- Single point of contact
- Regulatory administration
- Finance administration
- Warranty management
- Economies of scale
E&M
We team with FAA and/or USAF approved sources to offer a number of engineering & manufacturing solutions designed to reduce traditional replacement costs and lead times of aging airframe components. Our experience on the 707 & Derivatives (KC-135/E-8/E-6/E-3) platform encompasses both knowledge and capability across many of the airframe elements of the aircraft including the manufacture of numerous airframe components. This has afforded us substantial experience working within the parameters of the OEM’s quality and technical documentation, and enabled us to provide solutions for challenges unique to the 707 & Derivatives' lifecycle.
Program Management
In an effort to offer maximum benefits from our “Total Support” business model, we work with our Customers to establish short and long term program packages customized to specific sustainment requirements and budget limitations. Current programs include:
JT3D & CFM56-2 Engine Management
Maintain, repair and upgrade engine as required.
Rotable Repair Program
We offer rotable inventory management programs including exchange pools for systems and sub-systems: hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, fuel and engine, etc.
Life Extension/Sub-system Upgrades
We offer system modernizations designed to extend service life by replacing obsolete systems and components with modern solutions.
JT3D Engine Management
We team with local and in-country strategic alliances to program manage our foreign military Customer's KC-135 fleet's JT3D engines.
Carbon Brakes Retrofit Program
We represent General Atomics Systems Integration to Leverage USN Program Enhancements including the 707 Series E-6 carbon brakes retrofit upgrade program.
A respected global leader for defense aircraft sustainment.
