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Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy have announced an $830 million package that will create hundreds of local jobs and support Australia’s growing Black Hawk and Apache fleets.
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The announcement comes as Australia continues to work closely with the US and the UK to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s tactical aviation capability.
As part of this, the United States has accelerated the delivery of three extra Black Hawk helicopters in 2024, which will see a total of 12 aircraft in Australian service by the end of the year. The remaining 28 Black Hawks will continue to arrive in Australia according to a schedule of deliveries between 2025 and 2029.
The Australian Army will also receive early delivery of a Black Hawk aircrew training simulator and other essential items to support the seamless transition to the Black Hawk fleet.
Complementing this, Australia will procure five H135 “Juno” training helicopters from the United Kingdom. Australia and the UK government are working closely together to bring the training helicopters to Australia, with operations expected to commence in Oakey, Queensland, by mid-year.
The Deputy Prime Minister detailed the importance of the acceleration of the Black Hawk delivery and training H135 helicopters, saying, “We have been working with the United States and United Kingdom on ways in which we can bridge this gap, and their support and willingness with the acceleration of the Black Hawks and leasing of training helicopters will have a significant impact.”
Supporting the fleet of Black Hawks, Lockheed Martin Australia has been awarded a $340 million integrated support contract that will create hundreds of Australian jobs as part of an $830 million investment in local industry.
The five-year contract will generate hundreds of jobs in Queensland and NSW, including through the establishment of a central warehouse in Western Sydney.
Meanwhile, more than 230 new jobs across Queensland will be supported by a seven-year initial support contract for the AH-64E Apache helicopter worth $306 million, delivering maintenance, engineering, training and logistics services.
The Apache helicopter fleet will be based in Townsville from 2025 where it is estimated more than 150 jobs will be created, with a further 50 jobs in Brisbane and 30 jobs in Oakey.
The Deputy Prime Minister added, “These investments in the Black Hawk, Apache and Chinook fleets will support workers and industry.”
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy welcomed the contract announcements saying, “Through these contracts with Boeing Defence Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia, we are helping deliver certainty for local defence industry. These contracts will support hundreds of well-paid jobs, providing financial security for hard working Australians."
Additionally, Boeing Defence Australia has also been awarded an extended contract for an additional 12 months until August 2028 to support the Australian Army’s fleet of CH-47F Chinook helicopters, increasing the total contract value from $146 million to $184 million. The Chinook support contract allows for the direct employment of more than 70 local personnel in Townsville, Oakey, and Brisbane.
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s chief executive, Warren McDonald, welcomed the privilege to support the Australian Army, saying, “As the manufacturer of the UH-60M, we are honoured to see the Black Hawk return to Australia, and we are delighted to partner with the Australian Army to sustain the UH-60M with excellence.”
McDonald added, “Lockheed Martin Australia is highly committed to growing our sovereign rotary-wing workforce and supply chains to maximise Australian industry participation in the sustainment of Army’s Black Hawks.”
Scott Carpendale, Boeing Defence Australia’s vice-president and managing director, added, “We have an unmatched sovereign platform sustainment capability that has enhanced multiple foreign military sale platforms for the Australian Defence Force, and we’ll adopt that proven approach on Australia’s Apache program.”
Major General Jeremy King, Head of Joint Aviation Systems Division, Capability Acquisition & Sustainment Group, said, “Defence is dedicated to enhancing the Australian Defence Force’s battlefield aviation capability and building defence industry.”
Australia will acquire a fleet of 40 Sikorsky UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters, under a foreign military sale with the United States worth AU$2.85 billion to replace Australia’s fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters as part of LAND 4507 Phase 1 announced in 2022.
Announced in May 2022, Australia will acquire a fleet of 29 Boeing-built AH-64E “Guardian” variant of the Apache attack helicopter as part of the AU$5.5 billion LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Replacement program.
