Lockheed Martin Australia has been awarded a $340 million contract to provide integrated support and maintenance of the Australian Army’s newly acquired UH-60M Black Hawk utility fleet.
Under the contract, Lockheed Martin Australia will employ over 200 aircraft maintenance engineers, logisticians, and skilled aviation technical jobs over the next five years across Holsworthy, Oakey and Brisbane.
In partnership with the Australian Defence Force, Lockheed Martin Australia will provide through-life sustainment support to the UH-60M fleet including maintenance, training, supply and engineering support services.
“As the manufacturer of the UH-60M, we are honoured to see the Black Hawk return to Australia, and we are delighted to partner with the Australian Army to sustain the UH-60M with excellence,” said Warren McDonald, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s Chief Executive.
“Lockheed Martin Australia is highly committed to growing our sovereign rotary-wing workforce and supply chains to maximise Australian industry participation in the sustainment of Army’s Black Hawks.”
In October 2022, Lockheed Martin Australia launched an Australian Industry Capability Network Gateway to expand Lockheed Martin Australia’s rotary-wing sovereign sustainment network in support of UH-60M Black Hawks.
Lockheed Martin Australia has established an initial UH-60M Black Hawk Technical Assistance Agreement with the United States Department of State to accelerate the transfer of technical data and technology to Australian industry.
“The Australian Defence Force’s establishment of UH-60M Black Hawk fleet means exciting job opportunities are on offer for aircraft maintenance engineers, logisticians, engineers and other aviation specialists in Holsworthy, Brisbane and Oakey. I encourage people to visit our careers site to find out more,” said Rodahn Gibbon, Lockheed Martin Australia’s Black Hawk Program Manager.
The first three UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters were fast-tracked by the US Army and delivered six months after Defence confirmed its acquisition of 40 UH-60M Black Hawks as part of project LAND 4507-1, with the next delivery, of two Black Hawk helicopters, expected in March.