Sikorsky Australia, a Lockheed Martin company, has secured a $195 million contract to provide maintenance services to the Australian Defence Force’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter fleet, future-proofing its use and generating new local jobs.
Sikorsky will lead efforts to provide the Seahawks with through-life support services. ADF maintains 23 MH-60R Seahawks, with another 13 expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.
The MH-60R Seahawk has provided Canberra’s naval forces with anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities. It features advanced digital sensors, such as a multi-mode radar and an electronic support measures system, and weapons that include torpedoes and air-to-ground missiles.
Pat Conroy, Australia’s defense industry and capability delivery minister, said the contract awarded to Sikorsky ensures the combat readiness of the country’s warfighters and supports national security.
Apart from supplying Australia with the Seahawks, the defense company also supplies the Australian Army with UH-60M Black Hawk, which recently reached initial operating capability, 15 months after the delivery of the initial helicopter.
New Job Creation
The deal is expected to position Sikorsky’s Norwa facility in New South Wales as a potential maintenance hub for the U.S. Navy, possibly making the facility a preferred location for repairing, overhauling and upgrading its copters.
“This investment will create 75 well-paid jobs and support another 200 jobs for locals, underscoring the Albanese government’s commitment to investment in the local Shoalhaven community and building Australia’s defense industry,” Conroy said.