From staff reports The U.S. Department of Defense has announced several contracts that are expected to bring jobs and economic growth to Oklahoma and neighboring states. The deals announced July 31 are part of the military’s ongoing effort to upgrade equipment and maintain operations at bases across the country.
Two major contracts involving work in Oklahoma were recently awarded. One is valued at up to $4.3 billion, and the other is worth more than $79 million. Both contracts are managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Tinker Air Force Base.
The larger deal, awarded to Vertex Aerospace LLC, supports the Air Force’s fleet of T-6 training aircraft. The contract runs through July 31, 2034, and includes work at several military installations across the U.S., including bases in Oklahoma.
The second contract, a $79.3 million agreement with Boeing, involves engineering services for the KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. Boeing’s Oklahoma City office will lead the project, which is expected to be completed by June 30, 2033. Work will take place in Oklahoma City, other U.S. locations and Canada.
In another announcement, the Defense Logistics Agency awarded a contract worth up to $90 million to ASRC Federal Facilities Logistics LLC. The company will supply parts and equipment needed for maintenance and repair operations. The contract covers work to be done in Oklahoma and other states, including Colorado and Kansas.
The Defense Department also announced contracts in nearby states that may benefit Oklahoma’s economy through regional job growth and industry collaboration:
• Boeing’s KC-135 engineering work will also be done in San Antonio, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri.
• The Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $26.7 million construction contract to Emerson Construction Co. Inc., Temple, Texas, for work to be done in Abilene, Texas.
While not all the work is based in Oklahoma, the regional nature of these military contracts is expected to have a positive ripple effect across the state’s aerospace and defense sectors.