Lockheed Martin Australia has secured a $222 million contract to provide lifetime sustainment services to the new UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters of the Australian Army.
According to Lockheed Martin, the United States accelerated the delivery of the first three Black Hawks, which were delivered only six months after the Australian Department of Defence confirmed buying 40 of the aircraft. Two Black Hawks are expected for delivery in March.
The sustainment services that Lockheed Martin Australia will provide include maintenance, personnel training, materials supply and engineering support. The company will work in partnership with the Australian Defence Force and hire more than 200 technical aviation personnel across Holsworthy, Oakey and Brisbane over the next five years to fulfill the contract.
To support Canberra’s helicopter acquisition, the defense contract has expanded its rotary-wing sovereign sustainment network by launching an Australian Industry Capability Network Gateway.
More than 50 companies in the Australian aerospace sector have already expressed their interest in the company’s initiative. Lockheed has also signed a UH-60M Black Technical Assistance Agreement with the U.S. Department of State to fast-track technology and technical data transfer to the Australian industry.