Amentum wins $425M California firefighting contract

Chantilly-based government contractor Amentum has won a $425 million contract from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to deliver aerial firefighting support to the state, according to a Tuesday announcement.

The contract has three base years, with two option years.

“Amentum is uniquely positioned to manage the training, scheduling and mobilization of pilots and mechanics to deliver aviation solutions that protect California’s environment and critical infrastructure,” Amentum Mission Solutions President Karl Spinnenweber said in a statement.

The company can offer technical solutions, including AI-driven predictive maintenance, repair and overhaul services, as well as logistics and deployment expertise, Spinnenweber added.

Cal Fire has the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world. About 50 personnel lead the aviation program of the state agency, which responds to thousands of wildland fires across California annually. A team of about 200 mechanics, airtanker pilots and staff members ensures mission readiness, according to Cal Fire.

Because the state continues to get hotter and drier, the threat of wildfire has increased, according to the agency’s website.

“Today’s fire season is no longer seasonal,” Spinnenweber said in a statement. “It’s a year-round battle that grows more dangerous with each passing year.”

In February, Amentum announced it will open a new worldwide headquarters in Reston in early 2027.

With $14.4 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue, Amentum has about 50,000 employees in more than 70 countries across all continents. The company was founded as a spinoff of AECOM’s Management Services Group in 2020 and moved its headquarters from Germantown, Maryland, to Chantilly.