AAR to provide two USMC Clipper liaison aircraft

AAR Government Services Inc has been awarded USD118.6 million to deliver two Boeing 737 passenger/cargo aircraft to the US Marine Corps (USMC), the company announced on 6 September.

The USMC is to receive two Boeing C-40A Clipper liaison aircraft (seen here in US Navy service) to replace the two C-9B Skytrain IIs it retired in 2014. (US Navy)

The award will see the Chicago-based company provide a pair of 737-700 Increased Gross Weight (IGW) series commercial aircraft to the USMC, to be designated C-40A Clipper once in service.

“The firm-fixed price contract, estimated to last two years, entails the acquisition, modification, acceptance, and delivery of two 737-700 IGW-series commercial aircraft. The aircraft will meet USMC C-9B replacement medium-lift requirements and be designated as C-40A aircraft when delivered. AAR leveraged expertise across its government programmes, parts supply, and MRO [maintenance, repair, and operations] activities within the Aviation Services segment to deliver this innovative solution to [the Naval Air Systems Command] NAVAIR,” AAR said in a statement.

Jane’s first reported the USMC’s ambition to replace the two McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain II airliners previously flown and retired in 2014 with the C-40A in early 2018. As noted at that time, the two replacement aircraft will be delivered in a ‘combi-convertible’ configuration that enables the aircraft to be configured for all-passenger (121 persons), all-cargo (36,000 lb [16,330 kg] across eight 463L pallets), or a combination of passengers and cargo fits. They will also be equipped with USMC or US Navy (USN) unique avionics equipment.