Deep maintenance on Army’s CH-47F Chinooks will be carried out by Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) from 1 January 2017.
Currently C Squadron of Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment operates 10 of the heavy lift helicopters from RAAF Base Townsville.
According to Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne, the $20 million, five-year contract will see BDA as the preferred supplier for maintenance, taking over from BAE Systems Australia.
BAE Systems has maintained the Chinook fleet since 1995 and had signed a six-year contract to conduct deep maintenance support for the six D models in March 2011. The last of those were retired earlier this year but BAE Systems has also provided deep maintenance support to the new F models as they have been introduced into service and will continue to do so until the end of the year.
BDA has been performing operational maintenance and support on the D models since 2010 and has also supported the new F models since the first two were commissioned into service in May 2015.
BAE Systems confirmed to ADM that it did not contest the bid for the contract.