The Dutch defense ministry and StandardAero today signed a support letter of intent (LOI) for the F-35 fighter establishing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) depot services for the aircraft Pratt & Whitney F135 engine at the Royal Netherlands Air Force base at Woensdrecht. The strategic agreement will cover upgrade work on the F135 engines, working towards the goal of establishing initial depot capability status for the F-35 program by the end of 2019.

The F135 depot will be set up and operated through a public-private partnership between the Dutch government and Arizona-based StandardAero. The partnership will pursue other opportunities for F135-related work on behalf of other European F-35 operators.

In late 2014, the U.S. government selected the Netherlands as one of its future F135 depot locations in Europe. This prompted the Dutch government and the Province of Noord-Brabant to invest in new facilities, tooling and equipment. StandardAero established a European engine support capability through the March 2015 acquisition of DutchAero Services from the GE/Avio group.

The Woensdrecht depot will become StandardAero’s second MRO operation in the Netherlands. It is one of only three F135 engine depots in Europe, and StandardAero is the first commercial company to participate in F135 services in the continent.