VSE, Loar Group acquire Desser Aerospace

Aftermarket distribution and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services company VSE Corp. is acquiring Desser Holding Co. LLC for approximately $124 million.

Founded in 1920, Desser Aerospace is the world’s largest independent distributor of aircraft tires and tubes, a leading global distributor of brakes and batteries, and a component MRO services provider.

Desser’s global distribution and MRO operations in California, Tennessee, the United Kingdom, and Australia, serve commercial, business, and general aviation, and military aftermarket customers.

VSE plans to sell Desser Aerospace’s Proprietary Solutions businesses, including Seginus Aerospace, AOG Aviation Spares, and DAC Engineered Products for $30 million to the Loar Group Inc., a manufacturer and supplier specializing in aerospace and defense components. The sale will allow VSE to distribute Loar’s products globally and support Loar products through the company’s MRO capabilities.

John Cuomo, VSE’s president and CEO, says, “Desser, and their family of businesses, provide a platform for geographic expansion in high-growth international markets.”

“We are excited to welcome the Desser, Desser Australia, Watts Aviation, Aero Wheel and Brake, Cee Bailey’s, and Rotable Repairs team to the VSE Aviation family,” adds Ben Thomas, president of VSE Aviation. https://loargroup.com; https://www.desser.com; https://www.vsecorp.com

F-35 avionics, power services

GE Aerospace has a four-year agreement with Lockheed Martin to support avionics and electrical power systems on the F-35 globally. GE Aerospace will service the F-35 systems at repair and maintenance locations in California, Georgia, and Utah as well as GE sites at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Long Island, New York; and Cheltenham, United Kingdom. https://www.f35.com; https://geaerospace.com

In-space servicing, assembly, manufacturing consortium created

NASA announced a consortium to make in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities a routine part of space architectures and mission life cycles.

ISAM can enable new missions and extend spacecraft life. In-space servicing encompasses spacecraft repair, refueling, relocation, and retrofitting, while assembly and manufacturing includes 3D printing and assembling components in space.

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) formulated and funds the Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC). The agency selected The Aerospace Corp. to operate the group. A kickoff meeting is planned for fall 2023. https://aerospace.org; https://cosmicspace.org

Ontic offers Boeing exclusive distribution agreement

Boeing has a three-year distributor agreement with Ontic expanding support to the Staverton product line. The agreement identifies Boeing Distribution (formerly Aviall) as the exclusive distributor of approximately 600 actuation and control products on a range of civil and military aircraft platforms.

Boeing’s distribution portfolio for Ontic also includes fuel controls, memory wheel device, interior electronic and wipers product lines, and business and general aviation displays.