Timken Co.’s [TKR] Aerospace and Defense business has received an order to provide an emergency supply of left-hand engine nose gearboxes for use on the Army’s fleet of AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopters.
The order is to make adjustments to the shortage of spares at Army Aviation and Missile Lifecycle Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
Boeing [BA] produces the Apache and receives the gearboxes as government furnished equipment. There are no shortages at the plant or in the field, according to Boeing spokesmen.
Timken is the only aftermarket manufacturer approved to supply all five gearboxes onboard the Apache.
Timken’s left- and right-hand nose gearboxes transmit power from the engines to the main transmission, which powers the main rotor and all onboard systems.
Timken also provides gearboxes for the Apache’s main transmission, intermediate and tail-rotor positions.
In addition to the gearboxes, Timkenr bearings are found on several other areas of the Apache, including General Electric [GE] T700 Engines, the Honeywell [HON] Model 36 Auxiliary Power Unit and in Lockheed Martin’s [LMT] Arrowhead infrared sensor system, which is used to ensure safe flight for varied climate conditions and support accurate target controls.
“The Apache is a mission-critical system, and on-time delivery of replacement parts is paramount to the military meeting its operations timelines and objectives,” J. Ron Menning, president of Timken’s Aerospace and Defense business segment, said in a statement. “The Army needs a supplier to meet a delivery imperative, and has placed trust in Timken. We plan to exceed their expectations.”