MRO & Manufacturing
AMMROC and Lockheed Martin Expand UAE MRO Capabilities at Dubai Airshow
AMMROC and Lockheed Martin renew partnership to enhance UAE’s maintenance and overhaul capabilities, supporting regional defense readiness.
In a significant move for the Middle East’s aerospace and defense sector, the Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Center (AMMROC) and Lockheed Martin have signed a Letter of Intent at the Dubai Airshow 2025. This agreement isn’t just a renewal of vows between two long-standing partners; it’s a strategic reinforcement aimed at elevating the UAE’s role as a central hub for aviation sustainment. The collaboration is set to focus on expanding in-country Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, a critical component for ensuring the operational readiness of military aircraft fleets in the UAE and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The partnership between AMMROC, a leading MRO provider in the region, and Lockheed Martin, a global aerospace and defense giant, is built on a solid foundation of previous collaborations. This new chapter seeks to leverage their combined expertise to foster technical growth and unlock new opportunities within the defense industry. By concentrating on developing local talent and infrastructure, the initiative aligns with the UAE’s strategic vision for economic diversification and increased self-reliance in its defense sector. The implications of this strengthened alliance extend beyond simple maintenance, pointing towards a future of enhanced technological sovereignty and innovation for the nation.
The relationship between AMMROC and Lockheed Martin is not a recent development. It is a strategic alliance that has evolved over the years, marked by significant milestones. Lockheed Martin became an equity shareholder in AMMROC in 2011, joining forces with Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) and Sikorsky Aerospace Services. This long-term investment underscores a shared commitment to the region’s security and industrial development. The recent Letter of Intent serves to reaffirm this bond, outlining a clear path for future cooperation that builds upon past successes.
One of the most notable achievements of this partnership is AMMROC’s status as the region’s only authorized Lockheed Martin C-130 Service Center. Furthermore, earlier in 2025, AMMROC was designated by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, as the first Depot Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Center for Black Hawk UH-60 Helicopters blades outside of the United States. These authorizations are a testament to the high level of technical proficiency and trust that AMMROC has cultivated, positioning its Al Ain facility as a world-class MRO hub. The new agreement aims to replicate this success across other critical aircraft platforms, enhancing the comprehensive support available to regional operators.
The collaboration is designed to be mutually beneficial. For AMMROC, it provides access to Lockheed Martin’s global expertise, advanced technologies, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) support. For Lockheed Martin, it strengthens its presence in a key strategic market and fulfills its commitment to supporting the UAE’s industrial development goals. This synergy is crucial for tackling the complex challenges of modern military aviation, where sophisticated platforms require equally sophisticated sustainment solutions to maintain peak performance and readiness.
“This agreement reinforces the longstanding trust between AMMROC and Lockheed Martin. Our relationship has been built on years of close collaboration and technical excellence. It is also an extension of our 50-year partnership with the United Arab Emirates and our shared commitment to strengthening in-country capabilities that enhance readiness and create opportunities for specialized talent.” A core objective of the Letter of Intent is the deliberate expansion of in-country MRO capabilities. This focus is a direct reflection of the UAE’s broader national Strategy to build a robust, self-sufficient defense industry. By localizing complex maintenance and overhaul tasks that were previously performed abroad, the partnership aims to reduce turnaround times, lower costs, and enhance the operational availability of critical military assets. This move not only strengthens the UAE’s defense posture but also contributes significantly to its economic diversification by creating high-skilled jobs and fostering a knowledge-based economy.
The Al Ain-based AMMROC facility, one of the largest and most advanced of its kind in the region, is at the heart of this strategy. The center’s expansive hangar capacity and state-of-the-art equipment enable it to service a wide range of Military-Aircraft, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. The collaboration with Lockheed Martin will further enhance these capabilities, allowing AMMROC to offer an even more comprehensive suite of services to its customers. This includes advanced component repair, engine overhaul, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies into maintenance workflows.
The impact of this enhanced capability extends beyond the UAE’s borders. By establishing a world-class MRO hub in the region, AMMROC and Lockheed Martin are creating a center of excellence that can serve the needs of other nations in the MENA region. This positions the UAE as a strategic partner for regional security and stability, offering reliable and efficient sustainment solutions to allied air forces. The ability to provide timely and effective MRO support is a critical force multiplier, ensuring that aircraft fleets remain mission-ready to meet evolving security challenges. “Our partnership with Lockheed Martin reflects a shared vision for excellence and innovation in defense aviation. This new step builds on a successful history of collaboration across critical aircraft platforms and reinforces our collective goal to enhance MRO capabilities that support operational readiness for customers in the UAE and the region.” The Letter of Intent signed between AMMROC and Lockheed Martin at the Dubai Airshow 2025 is more than a standard corporate agreement; it is a strategic declaration of intent. It signals a deepened commitment to advancing the UAE’s aerospace and defense capabilities, with a clear focus on long-term, sustainable growth. By prioritizing the development of in-country talent and infrastructure, the partnership is laying the groundwork for a future where the UAE is not just a consumer of advanced defense technology, but a key contributor to its sustainment and innovation.
Looking ahead, this collaboration is poised to yield significant benefits for the UAE and the wider MENA region. The enhancement of MRO capabilities will lead to greater operational readiness, increased economic diversification, and the creation of specialized employment opportunities. As the partnership evolves, it will likely explore new frontiers in aviation technology, including the integration of digital maintenance solutions and advanced analytics. This forward-looking approach ensures that the UAE’s defense sector remains at the cutting edge, ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow while solidifying its position as a global leader in aerospace excellence.
Question: What is the main purpose of the Letter of Intent between AMMROC and Lockheed Martin? Question: Where and when was the agreement signed? Question: What are some existing collaborations between AMMROC and Lockheed Martin? Question: How does this agreement benefit the UAE? Sources: WAM
AMMROC and Lockheed Martin Deepen Ties to Bolster Regional Aviation MRO Capabilities
A Partnership Forged in Strategy and History
– Gen. John “Mick” Nicholson (U.S. Army, Ret.), Chief Executive for Lockheed Martin Middle East.
Bolstering In-Country Capabilities and Regional Leadership
– Jasem Al Marzooqi, CEO of AMMROC.
Conclusion: A Strategic Vision for the Future
FAQ
Answer: The primary purpose is to reaffirm and expand their long-standing partnership, focusing on strengthening in-country Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities to support military aviation customers in the UAE and the wider MENA region.
Answer: The Letter of Intent was signed during the Dubai Air-Shows 2025.
Answer: AMMROC is the region’s only authorized Lockheed Martin C-130 Service Center and was recently authorized by Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company) as a Depot MRO Center for Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter blades, the first of its kind outside the U.S.
Answer: It supports the UAE’s strategic goals of enhancing its domestic defense industry, achieving greater self-reliance, diversifying its economy, and creating high-skilled jobs for its citizens by localizing advanced MRO services.
Photo Credit: AMMROC
MRO & Manufacturing
Bombardier Acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions to Expand US Service Network
Bombardier acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions, adding a Delaware facility and mobile repair units to enhance its U.S. aftermarket services.
On February 9, 2026, Bombardier announced the acquisition of Velocity Maintenance Solutions, a specialized provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services based in Wilmington, Delaware. The transaction, executed through Bombardier’s U.S. subsidiary Learjet Inc., represents a strategic expansion of the manufacturer’s aftermarket footprint in the high-traffic Northeast corridor.
The acquisition provides Bombardier with immediate access to a 35,000-square-foot facility at New Castle Airport (ILG) and a fleet of mobile repair units designed for rapid response. While financial terms of the deal remain confidential, the move aligns with the company’s stated objective to grow its services revenue and secure a stronger domestic presence in the United States.
According to the company’s official statement, the acquisition is designed to bolster support for Bombardier’s growing fleet of business jets, including the ultra-long-range Global 8000. By integrating Velocity Maintenance Solutions, Bombardier aims to capture more of the lifecycle maintenance market, a sector that offers stable margins compared to the cyclical nature of aircraft sales.
The deal includes significant physical and operational assets that will be integrated into Bombardier’s service network:
Paul Sislian, Executive Vice President of Bombardier Aftermarket Services, highlighted the cultural fit between the two organizations in the press release.
“Velocity Maintenance Solutions’ capabilities and customer-focused culture make it an excellent fit for Bombardier… This acquisition is part of our commitment to continually elevate our service standards.”
Velocity Maintenance Solutions has established itself as an agile player in the MRO space since its emergence around 2021. As an FAA Part 145 Repair Station, the company is authorized to perform scheduled maintenance, structural repairs, and avionics upgrades.
Prior to the acquisition, Velocity serviced a diverse range of aircraft, including models from Embraer, Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream, and Textron, in addition to Bombardier jets. The facility is known for its 24/7 emergency support capabilities, a critical service for business jet operators requiring immediate dispatch reliability.
This acquisition arrives during a complex period for the aerospace industry, characterized by both consolidation and geopolitical friction. By executing the purchase through Learjet Inc., a heritage U.S. brand based in Wichita, Kansas, Bombardier reinforces its status as a significant U.S. employer. This distinction is increasingly vital as the company navigates trade tensions, including recent tariff threats from the U.S. administration regarding Canadian aerospace products.
Expanding physical infrastructure within the United States serves a dual purpose: it insulates the company’s service supply chain from potential cross-border friction and strengthens its eligibility for U.S. defense contracts. Furthermore, in an industry facing a chronic shortage of skilled labor, acquiring a “turnkey” operation with a certified workforce allows Bombardier to bypass the long lead times associated with recruiting and training new technicians. The location in Wilmington also places Bombardier in direct competition with other major service providers at New Castle Airport, including a Dassault Falcon service center, signaling an aggressive push to dominate the Northeast service market.
The acquisition was made by Learjet Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Bombardier.
The existing team of technicians and support staff at Velocity Maintenance Solutions will be retained and integrated into Bombardier’s workforce.
While the press release emphasizes support for Bombardier’s fleet, Velocity has historically serviced various manufacturers. OEMs often honor existing third-party contracts during transition periods, though the long-term focus typically shifts to the parent company’s products.
Bombardier Acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions to Densify U.S. Service Network
Expanding the Aftermarket Ecosystem
Target Profile: Velocity Maintenance Solutions
AirPro News Analysis: Strategic and Political Context
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the acquiring entity?
What happens to the current workforce?
Will Velocity continue to service non-Bombardier aircraft?
Sources
Photo Credit: Velocity Maintenance Solutions
MRO & Manufacturing
Satair and Joramco Extend 25-Year Partnership at MRO Middle East 2026
Satair and Joramco renew their 25-year supply agreement at MRO Middle East 2026, supporting Joramco’s maintenance operations and new contracts.
This article is based on an official press release from Satair and additional industry reporting regarding MRO Middle East 2026.
At the MRO Middle East 2026 exhibition in Dubai, Satair, an Airbus Services company, and Joramco (Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Limited) officially announced the renewal of their long-standing Consumables and Expendables Supply Agreement. The deal marks the continuation of a strategic partnership that has spanned more than a quarter of a century, reinforcing the critical role of integrated supply chains in the growing Middle Eastern aviation maintenance sector.
According to the announcement, the renewed agreement is designed to secure a consistent flow of essential spare parts for Joramco’s base maintenance operations in Amman, Jordan. By locking in this supply chain solution, Joramco aims to minimize “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG) risks and reduce the complexity of material management for its expanding customer base.
The partnership between Satair and Joramco is one of the most enduring in the region. For over 25 years, Satair has served as a primary provider of consumables and expendables, high-volume, low-cost parts essential for routine maintenance, to the Jordan-based MRO provider.
In the official release, the companies highlighted the operational benefits of the extension. The agreement allows Joramco to leverage Satair’s global distribution network, ensuring that parts are available precisely when needed. This “just-in-time” capability is vital for MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul providers) striving to offer competitive turnaround times to airlines.
A primary focus of the renewal is the mitigation of supply chain disruptions. By outsourcing the management of consumables to Satair, Joramco can focus its internal resources on heavy maintenance and engineering tasks rather than logistics. The agreement reportedly covers a comprehensive range of Airbus and Boeing fleet requirements, aligning with Joramco’s diverse capabilities.
“This continued partnership with Satair ensures we have the right parts at the right time, allowing us to deliver superior turnaround times to our global customers.”
, Statement attributed to Joramco leadership regarding the renewal
The renewal comes amidst a flurry of activity at MRO Middle East 2026, where both companies have announced significant independent expansions. The event, held on February 4–5, 2026, has served as a platform for major industry shifts in the region. According to industry reporting from the event, Joramco has also secured a major five-year heavy maintenance agreement with the German leisure carrier Condor. This deal will see Joramco performing base maintenance on Condor’s entire Airbus fleet, including the A320ceo, A320neo, and A330neo. Additionally, Joramco celebrated the first graduates of its Structured On-the-Job Training (SOJT) program, a move aimed at addressing the global shortage of skilled aviation technicians.
Simultaneously, Satair has expanded its footprint in the sustainability sector. Reports from the event indicate Satair signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAMECO (Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co.) to enter the Used Serviceable Material (USM) market, addressing the rising demand for cost-effective and sustainable parts solutions.
The renewal of the Satair-Joramco agreement highlights a critical trend in the post-2025 aviation landscape: the prioritization of supply chain resilience. In an era where global parts shortages have frequently grounded fleets, MRO providers are increasingly moving toward long-term, integrated agreements with major distributors rather than relying on spot-market purchasing.
Furthermore, the Middle East’s trajectory as a global MRO hub is evident in these announcements. Joramco’s ability to secure European contracts like the Condor deal, backed by a robust supply chain from Satair, suggests that regional players are successfully competing on a global scale by combining geographic advantages with high-grade logistical reliability.
Satair and Joramco Extend 25-Year Supply Chain Partnership at MRO Middle East 2026
Strengthening a Quarter-Century Alliance
Operational Efficiency and AOG Reduction
Broader Context: MRO Middle East 2026 Developments
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Photo Credit: Satair
MRO & Manufacturing
Joramco Renews Maintenance Agreement with mas Cargo Airline for 2026
Joramco extends its maintenance contract with Mexican cargo airline mas for heavy checks on Airbus A330 freighters throughout 2026 at its Amman facility.
This article is based on an official press release from Joramco.
Joramco, the Amman-based aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility and engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), has officially announced the renewal of its maintenance agreement with mas (formerly MasAir), a prominent Mexican cargo airline. The agreement was finalized and signed during the MRO Middle East 2026 exhibition in Dubai, marking a continuation of the strategic partnership between the two entities.
Under the terms of the renewed contract, Joramco will perform heavy base maintenance checks on the mas fleet of Airbus A330 freighters. The work is scheduled to take place throughout 2026 at Joramco’s facility at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. This announcement underscores the MRO provider’s increasing traction in the global cargo sector and its ability to secure recurring business from international carriers outside its traditional regional stronghold.
According to the company’s announcement, the new deal focuses specifically on heavy base maintenance, often referred to as C-checks, for the carrier’s Airbus A330 fleet. These checks are critical for ensuring the continued airworthiness and operational reliability of the freighter aircraft, which are essential to mas’s global logistics network.
This renewal follows a successful initial collaboration established relatively recently. Joramco and mas first formalized their partnerships in October 2025 at the MRO Europe exhibition in London. That initial agreement covered maintenance checks that began in December 2025. The rapid renewal, signed just four months later, suggests a successful execution of the initial checks and a deepening of the business relationship.
In a statement regarding the renewal, Joramco’s leadership highlighted the significance of the repeat business.
“We are pleased to welcome more aircraft from mas at Joramco. This agreement reaffirms Joramco’s position as a trusted Global MRO provider of choice.”
, Adam Voss, CEO of Joramco
The agreement with mas aligns with Joramco’s broader strategy to expand its global footprint. By securing a renewal with a Latin American carrier, the Jordan-based MRO is demonstrating its competitiveness on a global scale, attracting airframes from the Americas to the Middle-East for heavy maintenance. The timing of this renewal is notable within the wider context of the MRO industry’s capacity constraints. In late 2025, Joramco inaugurated “Hangar 7,” a significant infrastructure expansion that reportedly increased its capacity to 22 parallel maintenance lines. This expansion appears to be paying dividends, allowing the facility to accommodate the “more aircraft” referenced by CEO Adam Voss.
Furthermore, the cargo market remains a demanding sector requiring high asset utilization. For a specialized Cargo-Aircraft airline like mas, which operates a modernizing fleet of Airbus A330 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft, securing reliable MRO slots is a strategic priority. The quick transition from an initial contract in late 2025 to a full-year renewal for 2026 indicates that Joramco has successfully met the technical and turnaround time requirements demanded by the cargo carrier.
Joramco: A subsidiary of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), Joramco has operated for over 60 years. Based in Amman, Jordan, it provides airframe maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer aircraft.
mas: Headquartered in Mexico City, mas (formerly MasAir) is a specialized cargo airline operating scheduled and charter freight services across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The airline has been actively expanding its capacity with Airbus A330 freighters to support its international network.
Sources:
Joramco Extends Maintenance Partnership with mas Cargo Airline for 2026
Scope of the Renewed Agreement
Strategic Context and Capacity Expansion
AirPro News Analysis
About the Companies
Photo Credit: Joramco
-
Commercial Aviation3 days agoAirbus Nears Launch of Stretched A350 Variant to Compete with Boeing 777X
-
Aircraft Orders & Deliveries4 days agoHarbor Diversified Sells Air Wisconsin Assets for $113.2 Million
-
Defense & Military2 days agoApogee Aerospace Signs $420M Deal for Albatross Amphibious Aircraft
-
MRO & Manufacturing5 days agoFedEx A300 Nose Gear Collapse During Maintenance at BWI Airport
-
Defense & Military4 days agoAirbus and Singapore Complete Manned-Unmanned Teaming Flight Trials