TAE Aerospace has signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide in country maintenance support services on the Adour Mk871 engine that powers the RAAF’s Hawk Lead In Fighter.
As part of the agreement, TAE Aerospace will perform in country depot level maintenance and repair support services for the engine from its new Turbine Engine Maintenance Facility in Ipswich, Queensland, as well as periodic onsite Adour engine support at RAAF Williamtown and RAAF Pearce.
Rolls-Royce, as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), have the propulsion support contract with BAE Systems Australia to maintain the Adour engine for the RAAF’s fleet of 33 BAE Systems Hawk aircraft which are currently planned to be withdrawn from service in 2026.
“We are delighted to now be working with TAE Aerospace,” Rolls-Royce Adour MRO representative Garry King said. “Australia is a key defence market for Rolls-Royce and linking with TAE Aerospace’s established Maintenance Repair and Overhaul capabilities will help continue our support of the Adour engine in Australia.
“We are excited to be able to expand our turbine engine MRO capabilities to now include the Rolls-Royce Adour engine in our new Turbine Engine Maintenance Facility in Ipswich and increase employment opportunities in the region,” TAE Aerospace CEO Andrew Sanderson said. “Working with Rolls-Royce is another important step for our company as we continue to build our reputation as a trusted partner for all turbine engine manufacturers here in Australia.
“This also opens potential opportunity to attract business from other regional operators of the Hawk aircraft, such as Malaysia and Indonesia.”