General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) has started building the first phase of a new aircraft maintenance facility in Nordholz, Lower Saxony, with four maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) docks expected to be operational by the end of 2027.

In a press release dated November 11, 2026, the company said construction began at a ceremony attended by Lower Saxony’s Minister President Olaf Lies. The 40,000-square-meter site is connected to the Cuxhaven/Nordholz airfield and, according to General Atomics, has a long-term investment potential of more than 50 million euros, with the scope and pace of later phases set by customer demand.

What the first phase includes

The facility will add capacity for maintenance, repair and overhaul of various aircraft, General Atomics said. Training and instruction rooms are also planned, where customers can be trained to service the respective aircraft. The project will be built in several phases, and the ceremony marked the start of structural work on the first.

The company said the facility will create qualified jobs and that, depending on customer demand, the location has long-term potential to employ more than 100 people. Further expansion beyond the first phase depends on that demand, and customer requirements will guide the scope and pace of development.

Harald Robl, CEO of General Atomics Europe GmbH, said the company is investing in infrastructure and maintenance capacity in Nordholz to be closer to its customers and to be ready when they need it.

“As a family-owned business, we think long-term and view ourselves as partners to our customers.”

Harald Robl, CEO, General Atomics Europe GmbH

Lies said the investment strengthens Lower Saxony as a business and industrial location, will create jobs and regional economic value, and continues the development of Nordholz into a center of excellence for maritime aviation and high technology. “General Atomics’ decision to choose Nordholz is a strong commitment to Lower Saxony as a business and industrial location,” he said.

Planning around the airfield and a festival site

General Atomics said planning and implementation are coordinated with government agencies, civil and military aviation operators and neighboring companies, and that on-site cooperation helped speed up planning and approval processes. The DEICHBRAND Festival is located directly next to the site and was considered in the planning; the company said the new use is not expected to harm it, and it plans to set aside areas on its own property for emergency escape and rescue routes.

From property purchase to construction

On July 15, 2026, General Atomics Europe GmbH announced that it had acquired a property of about 40,000 square meters with direct airport access, next to the Nordholz Naval Air Base in the Cuxhaven district. At the time, the company said GA-ATS would operate the facility, working closely with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).

The July announcement framed the site as an expansion of maintenance and sustainment work for aviation systems operated by the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). Robl said then that “we are taking the next step in expanding our long-standing partnership with the German Armed Forces.” Neither General Atomics release names the aircraft types the Nordholz docks will handle.

GA-ATS and the aircraft based at Nordholz

According to the company, the General Atomics Europe Group has operated in Germany for more than 30 years. GA-ATS manufactures the Do228 and provides system support for it, and it develops and produces the new Do228 NXT, which it supports with maintenance, service and modernization. GA-ATS is a DEMAR 145-certified maintenance organization and performs base maintenance on the German Army and German Navy NH90 fleets.

The neighboring base is run by the German Navy’s Naval Air Wing 3 “Graf Zeppelin” (Marinefliegergeschwader 3). According to the Bundeswehr, the wing operates the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, in service with the Navy since October 2025, as well as eight P-3C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft. It also flies two Do 228 aircraft for the Federal Ministry of Transport to detect marine pollution over the North and Baltic Seas.

GA-ASI, which GA-ATS will work with at Nordholz, has a separate order from Germany. On January 12, 2026, GA-ASI announced that Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) had procured eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft and four Certifiable Ground Control Stations, with first delivery expected in 2028. That release did not name a basing location or a maintenance site in Germany.

What to watch

The next milestone General Atomics has given is the four MRO docks, expected to be operational by the end of 2027. Any later phases, and the jobs and investment tied to them, depend on customer demand, according to the company.

B&H Worldwide has acquired Founders Logistics, a US-headquartered company that specializes exclusively in aircraft engine transportation, adding a dedicated engine transport specialist to a network of hubs and Aircraft on Ground (AOG) centers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia, the Americas and Oceania.

The purchase follows the March 2026 investment by Sun European Partners, whose affiliate backed B&H with a stated plan to pursue mergers and acquisitions in aviation logistics. In its press release, issued from Heathrow, London, B&H Worldwide did not disclose the purchase price, other financial terms or a closing date.

What Founders Logistics brings to B&H

According to the release, Founders Logistics combines experienced logistics professionals with hands-on operational expertise and sensor-based tracking technology. It provides dedicated shipment management, end-to-end visibility and proactive updates throughout each engine move. B&H said the deal joins that expertise with its own international network, 24/7 operational support, AOG response capabilities and engine storage services.

The companies framed the acquisition around demand from airlines, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers, lessors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The release says these customers need logistics partners that deliver secure, reliable and time-critical engine transportation with complete shipment visibility. Together, the two companies plan to offer integrated engine logistics, from collection and handling through international transportation, storage and final delivery.

What changes for customers

B&H said customers of both companies will continue working with their existing teams and day-to-day contacts. Over time, the release says, they will gain coordinated engine collection, ground transportation, air freight, storage and final delivery through one specialist logistics partner.

They will also have access to Founders’ engine transportation expertise, backed by B&H’s international network and its 24/7 AOG and critical logistics centers.

What the two executives said

Stuart Allen, Chairman of B&H Worldwide, said: “Aircraft engines are among the most valuable and operationally critical assets in aviation.” He said moving them safely and on time requires specialist expertise, meticulous planning and a highly responsive logistics operation, adding that “Founders Logistics has built an outstanding reputation in this specialised field.”

Allen said bringing Founders into B&H combines its engine transportation expertise with B&H’s global network, 24/7 operations and more than three decades of aerospace logistics experience. He welcomed Founders President Cristhian Contador and the Founders team, saying the two organizations share a commitment to operational excellence, attention to detail and customer service.

Contador said: “We built Founders Logistics on one simple principle: treat every engine as if it were our own.” He said B&H’s global network and 24/7 operational capabilities will let Founders extend its reach and offer broader international logistics services while keeping the specialist expertise and personalized service its customers expect. He added that Founders looks forward to working with B&H to further develop its aircraft engine transportation and management capabilities around the world.

How the deal fits B&H’s buy-and-build plan

B&H was established in the United Kingdom in 1988 and, by its own description, has focused exclusively on aviation and aerospace logistics for more than three decades. It serves airlines, MRO providers, aircraft parts stockists, lessors, defense operators and OEMs, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Its About page lists aircraft engines among the shipments it handles, alongside specialist avionics components, rotables and consumables.

In a press release dated March 26, 2026, Sun European Partners said one of its affiliates had completed an investment in B&H, extending the firm’s buy-and-build portfolio. Sun European, whose affiliates have invested in more than 570 companies worldwide since 1995, said it looked forward to working with Allen and his team on mergers and acquisitions in aviation logistics and other specialist logistics areas. Allen, then CEO and a shareholder, said the backing would let B&H keep investing in its staff, capabilities and customer services. A portfolio page published by Sun Capital Partners lists B&H Worldwide with the status “Actively seeking add-on acquisitions.”

B&H’s leadership has changed since that investment. According to a B&H announcement published by the ADS trade association on August 24, 2026, Matt Silverberg was appointed Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect, succeeding Allen, who became Chairman and Board Advisor after 13 years as CEO. Silverberg is based in the United States and leads the company’s global operations and strategic growth initiatives, while Allen provides strategic direction from Singapore. The announcement said Silverberg’s track record includes revenue growth through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

Engine transport draws more specialist offerings

B&H is not the only logistics group building a dedicated engine business. In a press release on October 29, 2026, FedEx announced a dedicated logistics solution for main-deck aircraft engines and oversized aerospace components. As AirPro News reported in its coverage of the FedEx engine logistics launch, that service formalizes operations that had moved hundreds of engines since June 2025.

The B&H release leaves several questions open for operators, lessors and MRO shops. It does not say how many engines Founders Logistics moves each year, how many people it employs or where in the United States it is based, and it gives no timeline for the integrated service.

Northrop Grumman has been selected as a Certified Continental U.S. depot for the C-130 Hercules fleet, adding depot-level repair, overhaul and inspection work at its Lake Charles, Louisiana, facility. Lockheed Martin recognized the designation at the C-130 Technical Coordination Group World Wide Review event in Orlando, Florida.

Northrop Grumman announced the selection in a press release dated November 6, 2026. The company said the designation expands maintenance capacity for an airlift platform that supports combat, humanitarian and other missions worldwide, and that the Lake Charles site will help improve aircraft availability and return C-130s to service faster.

What the new depot designation covers

As a certified depot, Northrop Grumman will provide comprehensive maintenance, including repair, overhaul and inspection, according to the release. The company said the Lake Charles facility combines an experienced workforce, specialized infrastructure, digital tools, custom fabrication and aircraft capabilities to increase capacity.

The release photo shows Keith Thompson, senior director of programs at Northrop Grumman, and Mark Jarvis, international program management director at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, marking the partnership on C-130 Continental U.S. depot support. Northrop Grumman said the recognition reflects the two companies’ partnership in sustaining a critical national airlift capability, and its own continued investment in scalable maintenance and modernization capabilities.

The release leaves several questions open for operators and maintenance planners. It does not name a first customer or an aircraft induction date, give a contract value, say how many aircraft the site can handle at once, or say which C-130 variants the designation covers. It refers to the U.S. C-130 Hercules fleet in general terms.

Lake Charles and the E-6B Mercury

The Lake Charles facility also performs integrated modification and maintenance on the U.S. Navy’s E-6B Mercury in support of the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission, Northrop Grumman said. The E-6B is a communications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft, according to the Navy.

The Navy said on September 7, 2023, that it had accepted the first E-6B upgraded by Northrop Grumman at its Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center in Lake Charles under the Integrated Maintenance and Modification Contract (IMMC). According to the Navy, the $111 million contract includes six major modifications, called Block II, and Northrop Grumman will overhaul multiple E-6B aircraft under it by 2027. The Navy also said the company was approaching the contract’s required six-month turnaround time through process improvements in engineering, scheduling, management and production, and that the IMMC was the first time a single company was responsible for the entire installation.

Block II improves command, control and communications linking the National Command Authority with U.S. strategic and non-strategic forces, the Navy said. Pilots from Strategic Communications Wing One (SCW-1) collected the first upgraded aircraft on June 6, 2023, and flew it to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons 3 and 4 operate the E-6B.

Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles describes Northrop Grumman as an anchor tenant with nearly 30 years of experience in aircraft operations, logistics and depot maintenance. The airport says the company’s Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center is recognized as a “Center of Excellence” and that the company has completed hundreds of program depot maintenance deliveries on time and within budget.

The wider C-130 support network

Lockheed Martin’s C-130J fact sheet, which the company says is current as of November 2026, lists more than 570 C-130J deliveries, more than 3 million flight hours for the global C-130J fleet and 27 countries in its program status. The same document lists 17 Lockheed Martin-certified Hercules Service and Heavy Maintenance Centers supporting the aircraft. It credits the United States with eight variants, and its variant list includes the MC-130J for U.S. Air Force special operations and the HC-130J for U.S. Air Force search and rescue.

The fact sheet covers the C-130J only, while Northrop Grumman’s release does not specify which C-130 models will be maintained in Lake Charles. Other C-130 sustainment work covered by AirPro News includes StandardAero’s T56 engine depot contract in August 2026 and Tata and Lockheed Martin’s Bengaluru C-130J facility in December 2025.