Wednesday, Vector Aerospace announced the signing of a five-year, $15 million contract with the Brazilian Air Force to support the government’s fleet of BellH-1H helicopters.

Under the terms of the contract, Vector will provide in-country support for airframe inspection and repair services and logistics at a military facility located in Brazil, said Alan Fletcher, Vector’s vice president of operations.

“It also includes dynamic component repair and overhaul work for transmissions, gearboxes and hydraulics which will be carried out in Vector’s Bell Helicopter-approved repair and overhaul facility in Andalusia,” Fletcher said.

Those operations will create up to 10 new jobs locally for the business located in the South Alabama Regional Airport industrial park.

“We are proud to continue our support of domestic and international military fleets and further develop our Bell helicopter platform center of excellence in our new facilities in Alabama,” he said.

Paul Cockell, president of the North American division of Vector Helicopter Services, said that the contract award from the Brazilian Air Force is a critical component of Vector’s strategic plan to further expand its presence in the international marketplace.

“Vector has a wide range of engine, dynamic component, airframe and avionics capabilities to support these markets,” Cockell said. “Product diversity and years of experience and success in supporting military and commercial fleet operators, combined with a growing global network of facilities positions Vector for continued market growth and expansion.”

Vector Aerospace Corporation is an independent provider of aviation repair and overhaul services with facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Africa. It provides services to commercial and military customers for various types of gas turbine engines, components and helicopter airframes, as well as information technology solutions to an international customer base.

The company has approximately 2,500 employees — 93 of which are employed in Andalusia.