Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
Seahawk Support Contract
30 December 2009
A new contract to support the continued operation of the Fleet Air Arm's 16 Seahawk helicopters has been let to BAE Systems Australia Ltd.
The Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, said the contract would see the construction of a new aviation support facility at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park at Nowra. It would enable in-service support services for the Navy's fleet of 16 Seahawks to be maintained until they are withdrawn from service.
The new contract begins in April 2010 and is worth about $208 million dollars over the initial term of seven years and has extension options available. It would provide engineering, maintenance and some supply services to the Navy.
It would support 130 jobs in new expanded facilities located at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park as well as a number of positions in industry at Nowra, Melbourne and Amberley, Mr Combet said.
The Fleet Air Arm's Seahawk fleet is based at Nowra and on operations its helicopters are equipped to find and attack surface or submarine targets either independently or in conjunction with other Defence units.
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