Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has signed separate agreements with Boeing and Airbus to expand collaboration on leveraging data to support the sustainment of military aircraft.
The DSTA said on 15 February that the agreements – signed at the Singapore Airshow – will enable the creation of new “data pipeline infrastructure” that will facilitate the exchange of “digitised fleet and supply chain datasets”.
“This will allow for improved data analytic insights for the optimisation of aircraft maintenance support,” the DSTA noted. The activity will lead to reductions in sustainment costs and improvements in the availability of aircraft operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), it added.
Boeing said its accord with the DSTA will be focused on supporting the RSAF's fleet of F-15SG Strike Eagle multirole fighter aircraft. The company added that the new “data exchange pipeline” will store and facilitate the analysis of supply chain data for the F-15SGs, with the goal of developing predictive maintenance capability.
Both Boeing and Airbus signed initial and separate agreements with the DSTA in 2018 to develop digital technologies to enhance support for RSAF aircraft.
The DSTA said at the time that the accords will facilitate potential collaboration on activities including 3D printing, augmented and virtual reality, maintenance information systems, predictive maintenance, and data analytics tools.
Other statements have indicated that data analytics have also supported the RSAF's fleet of Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Airbus aircraft that are supported through its arrangement with DSTA could include several platforms that the RSAF has acquired in recent years including A330 Multi Role Tanker Transports and H225M medium-lift helicopters.
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