M7 Aerospace

M7 Aerospace LP is a United States aerospace services and manufacturing company headquartered on the grounds of San Antonio International Airport in San Antonio, Texas. The business was established in 2003 through the purchase of selected assets of bankrupt Fairchild Dornier Aviation. Those assets included Fairchild Dornier’s substantial San Antonio manufacturing and support complex, but did not include the aircraft manufacturing rights for the 328Jet. The 328Jet program had been transferred separately to AvCraft Technical Services during the bankruptcy process. Rather than continuing as a complete-aircraft manufacturer, M7 Aerospace developed a diversified aerospace-support model. Its reported business units cover aircraft parts and product support, government logistics support, aerostructures manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, and aerial orthorectified imaging. This mix places the company between an aerospace supplier, a military sustainment contractor, and a specialized aviation services provider. Its capabilities support both government and commercial aviation customers, with particular emphasis on maintenance, modification, component support, and structural production. The company’s San Antonio facilities and inherited technical capabilities gave it a base for supporting legacy aircraft and producing aerospace structures. Its government-oriented work has included logistics and maintenance programs involving U.S. military aircraft. M7 Aerospace is also identified as the original equipment manufacturer for the RC-26B aircraft, a platform used by the U.S. Air National Guard. In 2019, Support Systems Associates awarded M7 a $22 million contract for avionics upgrades to RC-26B aircraft. The work followed a U.S. Department of Defense contract awarded to Support Systems Associates the prior year for upgrades to the same aircraft systems. M7 has also participated in broader military fleet sustainment. In 2017, DynCorp awarded the company a reported $176 million contract connected with maintenance work for the U.S. Army’s C-26 and C-35 fleets. These programs illustrate M7’s role in extending the operational life of specialized government aircraft rather than competing primarily in the market for new commercial aircraft. On December 15, 2010, M7 Aerospace was acquired by the United States subsidiary of Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems for $85 million in cash. The transaction placed M7 within the Elbit Systems corporate group and strengthened its relationship with a major defense-electronics and aerospace company. Following the acquisition, M7 remained associated with aircraft sustainment, structures, support, and mission-related services. Public reference material does not establish a separate consumer-facing product portfolio, stock listing, or independently reported financial statements for the M7 Aerospace brand. Its principal identity is that of a specialized aerospace contractor and operating company serving government, defense, and aviation customers.

M7 Aerospace was formed in 2003 after acquiring assets from Fairchild Dornier Aviation, which had entered bankruptcy. The transaction gave the new company access to Fairchild Dornier’s San Antonio manufacturing and support facility, a site measuring approximately 426,000 square feet. The acquisition did not transfer the 328Jet aircraft program or aircraft-manufacturing rights. Those rights had been sold separately by the bankruptcy trustee to AvCraft Technical Services. The company consequently emerged not as a continuing producer of complete Fairchild Dornier aircraft, but as a diversified aerospace-support business. Its activities developed across five reported units: aircraft parts and product support, government logistics support, aerostructures manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, and aerial orthorectified imaging. These activities allowed M7 to use inherited aviation facilities and expertise in support of aircraft operators, defense customers, and government programs. M7’s government and military work became an important part of its operating profile. The company is identified as the original equipment manufacturer for the RC-26B aircraft and later supported modernization of that platform. In 2019, it received a $22 million award from Support Systems Associates for RC-26B avionics upgrades. The award followed an earlier Department of Defense contract received by Support Systems Associates for related upgrade work. M7 also participated in sustainment of U.S. Army aircraft, including C-26 and C-35 fleets. A 2017 DynCorp award reportedly valued at $176 million covered associated maintenance work. On December 15, 2010, Elbit Systems acquired M7 Aerospace through its United States subsidiary. The cash purchase price was $85 million. The acquisition connected M7’s aircraft-support and manufacturing capabilities with Elbit Systems’ wider defense, electronics, and aerospace portfolio. M7’s subsequent public profile continued to center on aerospace structures, parts support, maintenance, logistics, and military aircraft modernization rather than on the development of a consumer aircraft brand. Available reference material provides limited information about M7’s later corporate organization, leadership, annual revenue, and current standalone operations. It does, however, establish the company’s San Antonio base, its acquisition history, its principal business units, and its participation in U.S. government aircraft-support contracts.

• 2019

  RC-26B avionics upgrade contract

  [1]M7 Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  Support Systems Associates awarded M7 a $22 million contract to provide avionics upgrades for U.S. Air National Guard RC-26B aircraft.

• 2017

  DynCorp maintenance contract

  [1]M7 Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  M7 received a reported $176 million contract from DynCorp for maintenance work related to U.S. Army C-26 and C-35 aircraft.

• 2010

  Elbit Systems acquires M7 Aerospace

  [1]M7 Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  Elbit Systems’ U.S. subsidiary purchased M7 Aerospace for $85 million in cash on December 15, 2010.

• 2003

  M7 Aerospace is established through Fairchild Dornier asset acquisition

  [1]M7 Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  M7 Aerospace was founded after acquiring selected assets of bankrupt Fairchild Dornier Aviation, including a large manufacturing and support facility in San Antonio.

A specialized aerospace and defense-support provider combining aircraft sustainment, aerostructures manufacturing, government logistics, avionics modernization, and aerial imaging capabilities.

• Aerospace aftermarket

  Aircraft parts and product support

  M7 Aerospace provides aircraft parts and related product-support services for aviation and defense customers. The business is associated with sustaining aircraft already in service, including sourcing, supporting, and maintaining components rather than marketing a new mass-market aircraft product.

• Defense logistics

  Government logistics support

  This business unit supports government aviation programs through logistics and sustainment activities. Public reference material identifies government support as one of M7’s core operating areas, but does not provide a complete catalog of individual logistics programs.

• Aerospace manufacturing

  Aerostructures manufacturing

  M7 manufactures aerostructures and aircraft structural components. The capability reflects the company’s use of the former Fairchild Dornier facility in San Antonio and positions M7 as a supplier of structures rather than a current producer of complete aircraft.

• Aircraft MRO

  Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul

  M7’s MRO activities cover maintenance and related sustainment work for aircraft operated by government and defense customers. Its reported contracts include work connected with U.S. Army C-26 and C-35 fleets.

• Avionics modernization · 2019

  RC-26B avionics upgrades

  M7 is identified as the original equipment manufacturer for the RC-26B and has provided avionics upgrade services for the platform. A 2019 contract covered upgrades for U.S. Air National Guard aircraft.

• Aerial imaging

  Aerial orthorectified imaging

  M7’s aerial imaging unit provides orthorectified imagery, meaning aerial images processed to correct geometric distortions and support accurate mapping or geographic analysis. Specific customers and current program details are not identified in the reference material.

• 2019

  RC-26B avionics modernization contractOther

  Background

  The U.S. Air National Guard required avionics upgrades for its RC-26B aircraft, for which M7 is identified as the original equipment manufacturer.

  Action taken

  M7 accepted a $22 million contract from Support Systems Associates to provide the avionics upgrade work.

  Aftermath

  The contract reinforced M7’s role in supporting and modernizing specialized government aircraft.

  Contract value. 22000000 USD (2019)

  Source

• 2010

  Sale to Elbit SystemsM&A

  Background

  M7 Aerospace was operating as a diversified aerospace-support company after acquiring assets from bankrupt Fairchild Dornier Aviation. Elbit Systems sought to acquire the business through its U.S. subsidiary.

  Action taken

  Elbit Systems’ U.S. subsidiary completed the purchase of M7 Aerospace on December 15, 2010, in an all-cash transaction.

  Aftermath

  M7 became part of the Elbit Systems group, linking its San Antonio aerospace-support, manufacturing, and sustainment capabilities with a larger international defense contractor.

  Purchase price. 85000000 USD (December 15, 2010)

  Source

• 2022-01-27

  Ontic agrees to acquire Fairchild aircraft certificates and related assets[2]Ontic同意收购Fairchild飞机型号合格证及相关资产iconnect007.com

  Reported: 2022-01-27

  Ontic reached an agreement with M7 Aerospace to transfer the Type Certificates for the Fairchild Merlin, Metro II/III/IV and C-26 aircraft, along with product lines, equipment and intellectual property.

1. 1M7 Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ontic同意收购Fairchild飞机型号合格证及相关资产iconnect007.com