What RH Aero Systems does

RH Aero Systems is a private aviation support equipment and services company formed in 2024 through the merger of Rhinestahl and HYDRO Systems. Headquartered in Mason, Ohio, with European headquarters in Biberach, Germany, the company employs 850+ professionals and serves customers in 120+ countries through 26 certified global service centers. Its offering covers three integrated business areas: Ground Support Equipment (3,000+ OEM-approved products including tripod and axle jacks, towbars, engine stands, ground power units, recovery equipment, and flagship systems such as the COBRA Engine Change System and the LGX MultiSystem for main landing gear change); Engine and Airframe Tooling (precision OEM-certified tooling covering 96% of in-service commercial engines and 25,000+ airframe tooling part numbers, backed by licensed supplier relationships with GE Aerospace, CFM International, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney); and Global Services (calibration, refurbishment, loan/lease programs, AOG response, and tooling lifecycle management with a 14-day average calibration turnaround).

The company's proprietary systems are central to its value proposition. COBRA is a universal, semi-automatic four-pillar three-axis engine change system claimed to reduce engine change-out time by up to 70% (from approximately 28 hours to 8-9 hours), with 115+ units deployed worldwide. LGX MultiSystem is a pallet-shippable, ground-based landing gear change trolley that eliminates crane dependency, cuts main gear change time by 16+ hours, and reduces required crew from six technicians to two; it is validated across Airbus A330/A340/A350/A380 and Boeing 777/787 families and is now being extended to the US market via a May 2026 trial program. FutureDrive NG+ is a digitally controlled engine turning tool for borescope inspections that enables single-technician operation and integrates with Waygate MViQ+ borescopes. GE's 360 Foam Wash is an exclusive OEM-approved cleaning system co-developed with GE Aerospace, reporting up to 3x better EGT recovery versus conventional water wash.

RH Aero monetizes through a mix of one-time equipment and tooling sales, recurring calibration/recertification contracts, loan and lease programs, and managed tooling lifecycle services. Distribution is entirely direct enterprise sales with no third-party resellers; customers include commercial airlines, third-party MROs, military programs, and aerospace OEMs, with the company certified to AS9100D, ISO 9001, ISO 3834-2, and ISO 17025. In June 2026, private equity firm Capitol Meridian Partners LP filed with the German Federal Cartel Office to acquire indirect sole control over RH Aero LLC and RH Aero Systems GmbH, indicating an imminent sponsor-backed ownership transition for the newly combined entity.

Name

RH Aero Systems

Legal name

HYDRO Systems GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://rhaero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

RH Aero Systems supplies aviation ground support equipment, OEM-certified engine and airframe tooling, and maintenance services to airlines, MROs, and OEMs across 120+ countries through 26 global service centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Support Equipment and Tooling

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Vehicle Manufacturing (IMACAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL), Ground Support Equipment (GSE) MRO (Airport Tugs, Loaders, GPUs) (TLAKAHAG), Commercial Airframe MRO (Heavy Checks & Structural) (IMABALAA)

Keywords

• Aviation ground support equipment
• OEM-certified engine tooling
• Airframe maintenance tooling
• Aircraft engine change systems
• Aviation MRO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mason

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of 3,000+ OEM-approved GSE products including tripod jacks, axle jacks, towbars, engine stands, service carts, ground power units, and recovery equipment. Products sold directly to airlines, MROs, and operators.
2. Engine and Airframe Tooling: OEM-certified precision tooling for all major commercial, regional, and military aircraft and engine platforms. Covers 96% of global engine fleet including CFM, GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce programs. Licensed supplier relationships with major OEMs.
3. Global Service and Support: Technical consulting, loan & lease programs, engine-stand refurbishment, upgrades, calibration, and recertification services. Average 14-day turnaround for calibration and testing. AOG (Aircraft on Ground) response services and on-site technical support.
4. Tooling Lifecycle Management: Full lifecycle management from tool design to production, service, upgrade, and end-of-life recycling. Includes provisioning, asset management, inspection, certification, and fleet-wide inventory management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RH Aero Systems designs, manufactures, and supports aviation ground support equipment (GSE), OEM-certified engine and airframe tooling, and provides maintenance, calibration, and lifecycle services for commercial, military, and power-program aircraft. The company supplies 3,000+ GSE products and 100,000+ maintenance tools covering 96% of in-service commercial engine platforms, supported by 26 global service centers.

Product overview

RH Aero Systems is a unified aviation support equipment and services company formed through the combination of Rhinestahl and HYDRO. The company operates as a single integrated provider offering a comprehensive portfolio organized into three core business areas: Ground Support Equipment (3,000+ GSE products including COBRA Engine Change System, LGX MultiSystem for landing gear R/I, tripod jacks, towbars, hydraulic power units, and recovery equipment), Engine and Airframe Tooling (OEM-certified precision tools covering 96% fleet coverage including engine tooling for Rolls-Royce, GE Aerospace, CFM International, and Pratt & Whitney, plus airframe tooling with 25,000+ part numbers), and Global Services (technical consulting, loan/lease programs, calibration, refurbishment, and AOG support through 26 service centers). The COBRA and LGX MultiSystem represent flagship proprietary products, while the engine tooling sub-brands leverage exclusive OEM partnerships. The company also offers specialized engine cleaning solutions including AeroJetVac™ and exclusive GE's 360 Foam Wash.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AeroJetVac™: Engine cleaning system for on-wing and off-wing maintenance
• LGX MultiSystem
• COBRA
• FutureDrive NG+
• COBRA Engine Change System

Products and services

• Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Portfolio of 3,000+ OEM-approved ground support equipment products including tripod jacks, axle jacks, towbars, engine stands, service carts, hydraulic power units, ground power units, and recovery equipment for aircraft and engine maintenance, repair, testing, and transportation. Designed for airlines, MROs, and operators requiring safe, efficient ground operations.
• COBRA Engine Change System Universal, semi-automatic engine change system for narrow- and wide-body fleets. Features independent four-pillar, 3-axis architecture delivering millimeter-accurate alignment and enabling engine change-out up to 70% faster than traditional bootstrap methods. 115+ units deployed worldwide across six continents supporting airlines, MROs, and OEMs.
• LGX MultiSystem Next-generation, pallet-shippable trolley for main landing gear removal and installation on wide-body aircraft. Features all-electric X/Y/Z drive, 8-inch HMI touchscreen, digital twin support, and saves 16+ hours per main gear change. Compatible with Airbus A330/A340/A350/A380 and Boeing 777/787 families.
• FutureDrive NG+ Engine Turning Tool Digital core turning system replacing manual core cranking for on-wing and off-wing borescope inspections. Three-component architecture (power unit, drive motor, hand control) with programmable blade indexing, torque protection, blade counting, and two-way communication with Waygate MViQ+ borescopes. Validated on 20+ engine models, enabling up to 50% labor-time reduction.
• GE's 360 Foam Wash Exclusive OEM-approved on-wing and off-wing engine cleaning system developed in collaboration with GE Aerospace. Combines purpose-built Foam Wash Carts with GE-formulated chemistry, self-contained without external water supply, and provides up to 3x better EGT recovery compared to conventional water wash.
• AeroJetVac Engine cleaning system for aero engine maintenance, providing on-wing and off-wing cleaning capability as part of the engine cleaning product category.
• Engine Tooling OEM-approved, high-precision engine tooling covering 96% of in-service commercial and regional engines for GE Aerospace, CFM International, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and Engine Alliance platforms. Includes borescope inspection tools, carts, torque wrenches, spline gauges, and specialized adapter sets.
• Airframe Tooling OEM-approved precision jigs, fixtures, and special instruments supporting aircraft production lines and heavy checks. Features 25,000+ part numbers covering narrow-body, wide-body, regional jets, and helicopters, with Airbus (since 1987) and Boeing (since 1990) licenses.
• Rolls-Royce Engine Tooling Licensed Rolls-Royce engine tooling for all major Trent family programs (RB211, Trent 500/700/800/900/1000/7000/XWB). Developed in Germany and United States, approved as Rolls-Royce preferred supplier, and recipient of the Rolls-Royce Strategic Supplier Award.
• GE Aerospace Tooling OEM-authorized engine tooling for GE Aerospace platforms including GE9X, GE90, GEnx, CF6, CF34, CFM56, CT7, Passport, GP7200, and Honda Aero programs. Engineered in the United States and Germany; RH Aero is GE's OEM Authorized Tooling Provider.
• CFM Tooling OEM-licensed tooling for CFM LEAP-1A/-1B/-1C engines with Approved Source Certificate. Covers line, modular, and piece-part tooling with LEAP engine stands. Renewed LEAP tooling license through 2035.
• Pratt & Whitney Tooling Precision-engineered tooling for Pratt & Whitney engines including PW1100, PW1500, PW1700, and V2500 programs. Includes ground support and engine stand systems for A220-class aircraft, with full-service calibration, repair, and refurbishment programs.
• Global Services Technical consulting, loan and lease programs, engine-stand refurbishment, upgrades, and recalibration services supported by 26 certified service centers. Provides on-site technical support, recertification services, AOG response, with average 14-day calibration turnaround and ISO 17025/ISO 9001 accredited centers near major aviation hubs.
• TJN Tripod Jacks Newly announced tripod jacks designed for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 Family routine aircraft maintenance. Manufactured in the United States, aligned with U.S. standards, and intended to provide operators and MROs an affordable, reliable option for routine maintenance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces engine change time by up to 70% (from 28 hours to 9 hours)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, regional and core.

• Sabena technicsstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Joint development of new process for A350-900 main landing gear replacement. Sabena technics BOD performed first regular LGX MultiSystem operation (March 23-31, 2026). Process developed in close cooperation with Sabena technics, Airbus, Safran and RH Aero.
• Dubai South / Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace HubregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Regional hub partnership at Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH). RH Aero operates a new advanced facility spanning approximately 2,800 sqm serving as regional hub for Ground Support Equipment and tooling services in Middle East, Africa, and India. Provides inspection, maintenance, repair, overhaul, and technical support.
• Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Successful A330 on-aircraft validation of LGX MultiSystem during passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion completed October 2025.
• British Airways Engineering Wales (BAEW)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2025First 777-200 main landing gear swap using LGX MultiSystem during heavy maintenance check. BAEW conducted inaugural use validation as part of operational development.
• British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025First 787-8 Dreamliner main landing gear change using LGX MultiSystem during 12-year heavy check. BAMC served as launch partner for 787 validation of LGX system.
• GE AerospacecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerRH Aero is the exclusive OEM tooling provider for GE Aerospace, certified as official engine tooling provider for commercial and regional engine families. Supplies comprehensive design, production, calibration, and lifecycle services for GE9X, GE90, GEnx, CF6, CF34, CFM56, CT7, Passport, GP7200, and Honda Aero programs. Formal GE authorization since 2009 (GE CTS acquisition) and 2018 for GE9X program.
• CFM InternationalcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCFM International Licensed Supplier with Approved Source Certificate for LEAP-1A, LEAP-1B, and LEAP-1C tooling. Renewed LEAP tooling licence through 2035 secures continuity for operators and MROs. Complete maintenance scope including line, modular, and piece-part tooling.
• Rolls-RoycecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerApproved by Rolls-Royce as official tooling licensee and preferred supplier for multiple Trent programs. Covers all major Trent family programs including RB211, Trent 500/700/800/900/1000/7000/XWB. Recipient of Rolls-Royce Strategic Supplier Award recognizing exceptional quality and delivery performance.
• AirbuscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLong-standing Airbus licence since 1987 for airframe tooling. Licensee for tooling supporting Airbus aircraft families including A320, A330, A350, A380. LGX MultiSystem validated on multiple Airbus platforms in cooperation with Airbus engineering.
• BoeingcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBoeing licence since 1990 for airframe tooling. Licensee for tooling supporting Boeing aircraft families including 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787. LGX MultiSystem validated on Boeing 777 and 787 families.
• Pratt & WhitneycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerKey supplier and licensee for Pratt & Whitney engines including PW1100, PW1500, PW1700, and V2500 programs. Tools manufactured to meet OEM quality standards. Includes ground support and engine stand systems for A220-class aircraft.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AAR Corp: AAR Corp is a large aftermarket aerospace services provider offering MRO, parts distribution, and integrated solutions, with overlapping customer segments and complementary tooling/services exposure to RH Aero's offering.
• Lufthansa Technik: Lufthansa Technik is a major global MRO provider that also develops proprietary tooling and engine services, representing a broader competitor and potential customer/partner across the commercial aviation tooling ecosystem.
• Textron GSE: Textron (through TUG and Safeaero brands) manufactures aircraft tow tractors, ground support equipment, and specialty vehicles, serving commercial aviation and defense customers with overlapping GSE capabilities.
• JBT AeroTech: JBT AeroTech, part of John Bean Technologies, is a large incumbent provider of airport ground support equipment, gate equipment, and airside systems with a broader portfolio than RH Aero but overlapping significantly in commercial GSE categories.

Direct peers

• Malabar International: Malabar manufactures aircraft jacks, ground support equipment, and maintenance tooling, directly competing with RH Aero in commercial and military aviation GSE categories across airlines and MROs.
• Tronair: Tronair is a leading US manufacturer of aircraft ground support equipment including jacks, towbars, ground power units, and maintenance equipment, directly competing with RH Aero's core GSE portfolio across airlines, MROs, and OEMs.
• TLD (ALVEST Group): TLD is a major global manufacturer of airport ground support equipment including aircraft tractors, GPUs, and loaders, competing with RH Aero across commercial airlines and ground handling operations worldwide.
• Hydraulics International (HII): HII manufactures hydraulic ground support equipment, aircraft jacks, and maintenance tooling for commercial and military aviation, with significant overlap with RH Aero's GSE and hydraulic product lines.
• Franklin Products International: Franklin Products designs and manufactures aircraft jacks, towbars, and ground support equipment, competing directly with RH Aero's tripod jack, axle jack, and towbar product families for airlines and MROs.
• Newfound Aviation (NMC Aerospace): NMC Aerospace provides engine maintenance tooling, engine stands, and MRO equipment for commercial airlines and OEMs, directly competing with RH Aero in the engine tooling category for major engine platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rh-aero-systems

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RH Aero Systems