General News
14 February, 2024
Local jobs to be created from Lockheed Martin, Boeing deals
Hundreds of Australian jobs will be created to sustain and support the Australian Army’s future helicopter fleet, as part of an $830 million investment in local industry, including at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.
Lockheed Martin Australia has been awarded a $340 million integrated support contract for Australia’s Black Hawk helicopters.
The Black Hawk will be a critical capability for the Australian Defence Force, supporting the deployment of troops and equipment, and providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The five-year contract will generate hundreds of jobs in Queensland and New South Wales, including through the establishment of a central warehouse in Western Sydney.
Queensland will receive an additional jobs boost through two Boeing Defence Australia contracts now in place for the AH-64E Apache platform and CH-47F Chinook fleet.
More than 230 new jobs across Queensland will be supported by a seven-year initial support contract for the 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 Chinook integrated support services contract with Boeing Defence Australia has also been extended for an additional 12-months until August 2028, 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.
Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles said the Federal Government was committed to investing in Australia’s defence industry workforce and together these contracts will support local jobs across Queensland and New South Wales over the coming years, while equipping the Army with modern, fit-for-purpose capabilities for the future.
“Australia’s defence industry is vital to delivering the critical capabilities needed to keep our nation safe,” he said.
“These investments in the Black Hawk, Apache and Chinook fleets will support workers and industry.
“The Albanese Government is making the important decisions when it comes to sustainment, and at the heart of that is local Australian jobs.”
Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy said that Government was delivering on its election commitment to support the Australian defence industry and provide ADF personnel with the enhanced capabilities they need to do their job and keep Australians safe.
“Through these contracts with Boeing Defence Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia, we are helping deliver certainty for local defence industry,” he said.
“These contracts will support hundreds of well-paid jobs, providing financial security for hard working Australians.”
The Government is also working closely with the United States and United Kingdom to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s battlefield aviation capability, with more UH-60M Black Hawks to arrive in 2024.
The United States is expediting delivery of three extra Black Hawk helicopters in 2024, seeing a total of 12 aircraft on our shores by the end of this year.
The Australian Army will also receive early delivery of a Black Hawk aircrew training simulator and other essential items.
The remaining 28 Black Hawks will continue to arrive in Australia according to a schedule of deliveries between 2025 and 2029 with Oakey expected to see them towards the back end of that time frame.
To support essential training requirements for Army aircrew, Australia will procure five H135 ‘Juno’ training helicopters from the United Kingdom.
Australia and the United Kingdom Government are working closely together to bring the training helicopters to Australia, with operations expected to commence in Oakey by mid-year.
The planned lease length for the ‘Juno’ helicopters is five years.
The lease arrangement will be funded from within Defence’s existing budget.
Deputy Prime Minister Marles thanked Australia’s defence industry partners for their commitments to filling Australia’s ‘capability gap.’
“We are grateful to both the United Kingdom and the United States for their support to enhance Army’s battlefield aviation capability,” he said.
“We need a highly capable Army. When the tough but necessary decision was made last year to expedite the withdrawal of the MRH-90s from service, it meant that we needed to look at all options when it came to filling the capability gap and providing the necessary training our servicemen and women need.
“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.”.
New Oakey Army Aviation Commandant Colonel Duncan Flindle said the Oakey Army Aviation Centre would see five H135 ‘Junos’ arrive later in the year, as part of a leasing deal with the UK Government.
“There’s a really good indication as per the government announcement that we’ll get at least 30 jobs,” he said.
“I don’t think the future of Oakey was every in doubt.
“Not just strategically, but culturally (Swartz Barracks) is very important to Army Aviation.
“The Juno Aircraft is designed to take these young people for the next five years.
“We’ll continue to see our ground personnel here, because they train across (different types of) aircraft.”
Regarding the Black Hawks, Col Flindle said Sydney would get the first contingent, and when things reached capacity there, the aircraft would arrive in Oakey.
