Sikorsky Australia, a Lockheed Martin company, will provide through-life sustainment support for the Navy’s fleet of MH-60R (Romeo) helicopters at their state of the art maintenance, logistics and repair organisation in Nowra, NSW.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the agreement with the US Navy is a testament to the close ties between the two Navies.
“The US Navy play a pivotal and trusted role in the ongoing provision of support to this capability,” Minister Reynolds said.
“The Morrison Government is committed to maximising opportunities for Australian defence industry through its unprecedented investment in defence capability over the next decade.”
The Royal Australian Navy has established a Foreign Military Sales sustainment agreement with the United States Navy and this contract is an extension of the current contract arrangements.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the contract with Sikorsky demonstrates the opportunities that can be realised for Australian industry under a Foreign Military Sales arrangement.
“Based at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park in Nowra, this contract will sustain the existing workforce of 140 employees and create an additional 39 new positions, including several apprenticeships in the Shoalhaven Region of NSW,” Minister Price said.
“The awarding of this contract is another example of the world-class local industry Australia has to offer.”
Sikorsky Australia Awarded $200m RAN MH-60R Sustainment Contract
NOWRA, Australia – Sikorsky Australia, a Lockheed Martin company, has been awarded a AUD$200m contract to deliver sustainment support services for the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of 24 MH-60R (Romeo) maritime helicopters.
The five-year contract will see the creation of 48 new positions in Sikorsky Australia’s purpose-built Maintenance & Logistics Support facility at Albatross Aviation Technology Park, Nowra NSW.
Integrated with the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, Sikorsky Australia will provide through-life sustainment support to the MH-60R fleet when on base and on deployment, including maintenance, training, warehousing, supply support system and test equipment services.
Commenting on the award, Lockheed Martin Australia chief executive Joe North said the new contract confirmed Sikorsky Australia as the Fleet Air Arm’s trusted MH-60R sustainment partner.
“Sikorsky Australia has a proven track record as a sustainment partner to the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm and is an exemplar of Australian industry capability,” he said. “As the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter, the MH-60R is a critical capability for the Royal Australian Navy to defend Australia’s national interests and Sikorsky Australia engineers are proud to work alongside our service personnel to ensure the fleet’s operational availability is maximised.”
The contract award announcement coincides with Sikorsky Australia’s appointment of three new aircraft apprentices. Shoalhaven locals Nicola Douet, Bailey Cosgrove, and Corey Plummer will commence four-year placements with Sikorsky Australia and attend an accredited course provided by local training company Aerospace Training Services, with the goal of becoming fully qualified aircraft maintenance engineers.
The new appointments bring Sikorsky Australia’s cohort of local area apprentices and trainees to ten and the total number of employees at Albatross Aviation Technology Park to 185.
Dale Hall, General Manager, Sikorsky Australia commented on the importance of the new contract for the Shoalhaven region while congratulating the three new local apprentices.
“The new MH-60R sustainment contract not only supports our existing operations, but also enables us to provide new job opportunities for the Shoalhaven at a time when they are needed most,” he said. “We welcome the three new apprentices starting their career journeys with Sikorsky Australia, and we look forward to seeing them develop as they pursue careers in aircraft maintenance.”
New Sikorsky Australia aircraft apprentice, Nicola Douet confirmed growing up in the Shoalhaven was a significant factor in her long-held ambition to work in aviation engineering.
“Growing up in Shoalhaven with the Fleet Air Arm so close, I have always been fascinated by aviation,” she said. “The opportunity to pursue my ambition and become an aircraft maintenance engineer with Sikorsky Australia in Nowra is a dream come true.”
The MH60 Romeo fleet was built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, with the mission systems integrated and the full fleet delivered to the Royal Australian Navy by Lockheed Martin in 2016.
About Lockheed Martin Australia: Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1000 people in Australia working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.
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MH-60R Seahawk in
Fleet Air Arm (RAN) Sikorsky Helitech 
