Qantas Defence Services is a defence service company that was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas. In August 2013, QDS was sold to Northrop Grumman for A$80 million.[1]
The subsidiary had been providing maintenance for Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, as well as work on the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transports and also maintained both Prime Ministerial Boeing Business Jets.[2]
Qantas is providing increasing support for the RAAF:
- Partnered with Airbus for the supply of Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport to replace the RAAF's Boeing 707s in the aerial refueling and strategic transport roles
- Lease to RAAF of 2 Boeing Business Jets, including maintenance
- Support of RAAF Boeing Wedgetail aircraft
- Repair, Overhaul and Engineering Support of the T-56 Turboprop Engine (powering the RAAF Fleet of C-130H and P-3C Aircraft)
- Repair and Overhaul of the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 871-05 Turbofan Engine (powering the RAAF Fleet of BAE Hawks)
- Deeper Level maintenance support of the RAAF's fleet of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft
- Maintenance and Engineering support of the RAAF's fleet of P&W R2000-7M2 engines installed on Caribou transport aircraft.