Preening the Hawks: Maintaining Australia’s H-60 Helicopters
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Australia may be an NH90 customer, but they also fly quite a few Sikorsky helicopters. Their 35 S-70A-9 Black Hawks began service in 1986, and have been used domestically and in a number of international deployments. Their lack of full defensive systems has prevented deployment to dangerous conflict zones like Afghanistan, but recent upgrades have partly fixed this problem. The Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of 16 S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters contain features from the US Navy’s SH-60B and SH-60F Seahawks, and were delivered from 1988-1992. They will be replaced from 2016 onward by new MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
Those fleets need maintenance, and Australia has signed a number of long-term contracts to that end. This article covers those contracts, from 2009 onward.
Contracts & Key Events
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July 10/12: Umbrella support. Australia’s government signs an A$ 124.8 million (about $130 million) contract with Sikorsky Helitech for Black Hawk and Seahawk fleet maintenance and engineering services. The 4-year contract has 6 annual renewable options, for a possible total of 10 years. It’s a follow-on agreement to the current standing offer, which is expiring after an 8-year term. The new contract is “performance-based,” which means that it contains clauses designed to reward achievements like increasing the fleet’s overall annual flying rate, controlling costs, etc.
Sikorsky Aircraft Australia Limited does business as Sikorsky Helitech, based in Brisbane, which is emerging as a hub for helicopter and aviation maintenance. Sikorsky Helitech will provide repair and overhaul management services; engineering, technical, and field service support; publication updates; and customer service support. That last item includes management of maintenance and logistics elements such as freight, acquisition of spares, and replacement of repairable components. Australian DoD release & transcript | Sikorsky.
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Dec 19/09: Black Hawks. Fresh off of a 7-year contract with BAE Australia to maintain its S-70B-2 naval helicopters, Australia’s DoD is signing a shorter contract with the same firm to cover the Army’s S-70A Black Hawk fleet. The Black Hawks began service in 1986, and the 3-year, A$ 35 million ($31 million) S-70A maintenance contract has 5 one-year options that could extend the contract through to the helicopters’ expected withdrawal from service in 2017-2018.
Australia’s Black Hawks have been used domestically and in a number of international deployments, but their lack of full defensive systems has prevented deployment to dangerous conflict zones like Afghanistan.
The S-70A fleet will receive a partial protection suite by 2010, under revisions to “Project Echidna,” but the Black Hawk fleet will be replaced by the larger NH90-TTH (“MRH-90”). Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace has begun MRH-90 deliveries.
This new Black Hawk support contract continues the employment of nearly 100 local maintenance technicians and support personnel at the helicopters’ base in Townsville, but the new contract does shift some of the maintenance risk on to the contractor when compared with previous agreements. Australian DoD | BAE Australia.
Dec 18/09: Seahawks. The Australian government announces a multi-year In Service Support contract to BAE Systems Australia Ltd., covering the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of 16 S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters. Australia’s naval S-70s contain features from the US Navy’s SH-60B and SH-60F Seahawks, and were delivered from 1988-1992.
The new 7-year, A$ 208 million (currently $187 million) support contract begins in April 2010, and is expected to run until existing Seahawks are withdrawn from service. Extension options could lengthen that period, however, which is a wise precaution against late deliveries of its next-generation naval helicopters.
BAE’s ISS contract will provide engineering, maintenance, and some supply services. It’s expected to support 130 jobs in new expanded facilities at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park, located near the S-70B fleet’s base at HMAS Abatross in Nowra, New South Wales, as well as securing a number of industry positions in Nowra, Melbourne and Amberley. Australian DoD | BAE Australia release.
Oct 21/09: Scandal. Australian media report allegations that breaches in regulations concerning maintenance sign-offs for Australia’s Black Hawk helicopter fleet had been covered up by Australia’s DoD. The cover-up also led to the alleged unfair dismissal of 2 Sikorsky aircraft engineers responsible for raising safety concerns.
