Babcock International Group, an engineering support provider, has secured a new seven-year contract to support airfield ground equipment at French military bases in mainland France and overseas. 

The French Ministry of Defence’s Directorate of Aeronautical Maintenance (DMAé) awarded the contract. The deal involves managing and maintaining a fleet of more than 2,500 pieces of equipment that are important for airfield operations and providing 1,200 spare parts for the Armed Forces. 

Babcock France CEO Pierre Basquin said the company was “proud” to be a strategic partner of the French Ministry of Defence [MOD]. The contract follows the successful completion of a ten-year ground support equipment contract awarded in December 2022 for the French Army, Navy and Air Force at 44 sites worldwide. 

Babcock’s half-year results for 2023 state: “In France, we have successfully completed the transition of the ground support equipment contract for assets and equipment across the French Army, Navy and Air Force through a 10-year contract. Programme performance after six months is good and remains in line with customer expectations, delivering support activities from 22 sites across mainland France. 

In addition, we have been awarded a second contract to provide in-service support to airfield support equipment throughout the military bases in France’s mainland and overseas bases for seven years. The contract will see the Group investing in key systems, infrastructure, and people across France, supported by capability transfer from our UK businesses, which will reinforce our in-country growth strategy.”

Babcock will provide in-service support to airfield ground support equipment throughout France’s mainland and overseas military bases.  

Babcock France CEO Pierre Basquin said the company was proud to be a strategic partner to the MOD in France. “With this new contract, we will contribute to national security in the country by keeping the ground support equipment of our Armed Forces ready to respond,” he said. 

The new contract follows Babcock’s successful completion of a ten-year ground support equipment contract awarded to the company in December 2022. The previous contract supported around 1,000 pieces of equipment and 4,000 spare parts for the French Army, Navy and Air Force at 44 sites worldwide. 

The new contract is expected to reinforce Babcock’s increasing importance in France by investing in key systems, infrastructure and human resources. Babcock International Group provides engineering services, including nuclear services, defence and civil nuclear markets.