Vertex secures $280M U.S. Navy contract

The Vertex Company, a Mississippi-based defense and space manufacturing company, has been awarded a contract valued up to $280 million to maintain the U.S. Navy’s aircraft used to train naval aviators and naval flight officers by the Chief of Naval Air Training, or CNATRA.

“Training is critical in keeping Naval Aviation at a high level of readiness,” said Ed Boyington, President and CEO of The Vertex Company.

“The Vertex Company provides timely … maintenance of training aircraft, enabling our military to meet their readiness objectives.”

As part of the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, or AIMD, contract, the company will provide intermediate or “I-level” maintenance for U.S. Navy training aircraft including the T-6 Texan, T-44 Pegasus, T-45 Goshawk, TH-57 Sea Ranger and TH-73 Thrasher.

Among different levels of aircraft maintenance, I-level maintenance includes detailed repair and inspections of components and systems that are taken off aircraft and sent to specialized workshops.

The contract also includes I-level maintenance for specific items used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ Blue Angels flight demonstration team. Vertex will support the Blue Angels with tire and wheel maintenance, hydraulic component repair, and aviation life support systems for the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the C-130J “Fat Albert” Hercules aircraft.

“The Vertex Company provides mechanics and other artisans that are focused on the skilled sustainment of aircraft, so our customers can focus on their mission,” said Richard “Vinny” Caputo, President of Aerospace and Defense Services at The Vertex Company.

Under the contract Vertex will provide I-level maintenance, repair and logistics support services at Corpus Christi, Texas; Pensacola, Florida; Kingsville, Texas; Meridian, Mississippi; and Whiting Field, Florida. The contract extends up to 2029.

In late August 2022, Vertex also received a contract worth up to $230 million for contractor logistics support for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps’ fleet of C-12 Huron aircraft.

A month earlier, the company said it begun work on an up to $850 million U.S. Navy contract after the award was upheld by U.S Government bid protest decisions. Vertex previously announced the contract, which is for the maintenance of test aircraft for the U.S Navy, in April 2022.