The Australian Army's Black Hawk fleet has returned to South East Queensland's Swartz Barracks. Three of the combat utility helicopters have been transferred to the Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey, establishing the Army’s second UH-60M Black Hawk operating node.
“The modernisation of Army’s aviation capabilities is providing our soldiers with the enhanced situational awareness, tactical speed, reach, and firepower required to protect Australia and our national interests,” Commander of the Australian Army’s Aviation Command, Major General David Hafner, said.
“I want to thank the United States Army for their continued support in the delivery of the UH-60M Black Hawk to Australia, and our industry partners at Lockheed Martin Australia for aiding with the sustainment of this critical capability.”
Locating elements of the Black Hawk fleet at Swartz Barracks will fulfil Defence’s utility helicopter requirements, and is the next step in establishing a sovereign UH-60M training capability. After focusing initial support for the introduction of the UH-60M Black Hawks at Holsworthy Barracks in NSW, the Army Aviation Training Centre will transfer flying training to Oakey from 2026 and progress to full training capacity from 2029.
“The expansion of the Black Hawk fleet will be supported by a highly skilled, embedded defence industry workforce, working side by side with our Army Aviation specialists to deliver and sustain this critical capability,” Head of Joint Aviation Systems Division, Major General Jeremy King, stated.
The second operating node will leverage existing defence industry capability with Lockheed Martin Australia and Sikorsky Australia supporting the UH-60M Black Hawk and Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk across South East Queensland and New South Wales.
“The culmination of the Australian Army announcing initial operating capability for the UH60M Black Hawks in February together with launching a second aviation operating node is significant. It showcases Army’s expertise and steadfast commitment to delivering critical capability at speed to protect Australia," Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Warren McDonald, affirmed.
In March 2025, Lockheed Martin Australia established a new custom-fit logistics warehouse facility in Sydney to support the operational readiness of the Black Hawk Fleet across Australia.
Swartz Barracks will also see more than $9 million of essential infrastructure upgrades to support the expansion of the fleet, with construction to begin in the coming months. 18 UH-60M Black Hawks will be based out of Oakey by 2030, to be operated by the Army Aviation Training Centre and 5th Aviation Regiment.