Depot, BAE Systems maintain cooperative support of troops

By U.S. ArmyDecember 18, 2008

Depot, BAE maintain cooperative support of troops
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala.--Equipping our troops through public-private partnering is not new to the depot and defense contractor BAE Systems. The two have been teaming up to repair combat vehicles and other military equipment since 1994, and the relationship is still one that gives BAE Systems, formerly United Defense, a profound footprint on the depot.

The United Kingdom -- based BAE Systems' United States subsidiary is headquartered in Rockville, Md., and employs about 97,000 people around the globe. About 1,000 are employed in Anniston.

The company, like the depot, has more than six decades of experience in defense systems.

The depot and BAE are jointly carrying out a variety of defense programs to provide the troops with equipment like the M-113, the M-88, and the joint assault bridge. Among these different weapon systems, the partners are currently working three programs -- M-88A2 test track use and oil analysis; the Paladin Integrated Management production; and the M-113 overhaul and conversion -- that the Army identifies as a P-3 (public-private partnership), which is defined by the terms of a direct sales, a workshare, or a facility-use agreement.

Some programs yield more than one of the three types of arrangements for the partners, such as the M-88A2 program, which calls for a facility use contract for the test track and a direct sales contract for oil analysis services that the depot provides to BAE Systems.

A P-3 leverages the skills of each organization so that the warfighter is provided the best product, in the shortest time possible and with the taxpayers' dollars in mind.

"Like our relationship with our other partners, we have developed a mutual trust, confidence, and respect for each other as business partners," said depot business management specialist Johnny Thompson. "This has enabled us to capitalize on each other's strengths."

Over the years, BAE Systems' presence has been a strong one. BAE's Ground Systems Division has constructed several sites in and around the Anniston area, to include a facility on West 10th Street and one in an industrial area on Coleman Road.

Because of various facility-use agreements between the two, BAE Systems employees can be seen each day at the depot's 1.1-mile vehicle test track where they are running the M-113 and M-88 tracked vehicles.

Each program that BAE Systems executes at the depot, no matter what the weapon system or the partnership criteria, is conducted in a partnering fashion. The employees of both organizations work in the same vicinity, sharing facilities and a common goal-supporting the troops.

BAE Systems in Anniston announced in November that it would have to employ a reduction in force-scheduled to take place between now and March 2009 -- after learning that several of its defense contracts will be ending, and with no new work to replace them. BAE-Anniston performs work for various organizations within the Department of Defense; not all of BAE Systems' work in Anniston is performed in partnership with the depot.

"BAE Systems and the depot will continue to work together in partnership to ensure that our warfighters receive the best quality rebuilt and reset combat systems. Our strategic partnership is important to our company, our community and our country," said Robert Houston, a BAE Systems Ground Systems vice president and the Anniston site manager.

The contracts that BAE Systems directly has with Anniston Army Depot and its maintenance team have helped the parties gain valuable experience in transforming with the Army's needs and in easing risk factors, like environmental issues, that come with vehicle overhaul.

"It is an experience highly valued by both partners," said Thompson. "BAE and ANAD have grown together in our partnering experience."

Outside of the P-3 realm, the depot is working with the United States Marine Corps and with BAE Systems-United Kingdom to build the joint assault bridge, a prototype vehicle that the depot demonstrated in 2006. BAE Systems is just one of the defense contractors playing a role in the production of these bridge launchers.

JABs are able to reach speeds equal to those attained by the M-1 Abrams and Bradley combat vehicles and come equipped with a 60-foot bridge.

Once the depot welders and machinists complete the armor covers and JAB turrets, mechanics in the depot's Stanley Maintenance Facility work alongside defense contractors like BAE Systems to assemble the JAB and test its subsystems, said Joe Cox, supervisor in the tank systems branch.

BAE-UK provides engineering support on the JAB's bridge launching frame, to include the hydraulics system, said Larry Lackey, depot mechanic.

Within the 5-member BAE JAB team that works in the depot's industrial complex, two are mechanics who work side-by-side with depot employees.

"All is going good," said Lackey. "We expect to see another rotation of BAE employees here at the end of the year to build more (JABs)."

Related Links:

Army Materiel Command Web site

Anniston Army Depot Web site