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Defence has marked a key milestone in the local maintenance of the Sikorsky-built multi-role helicopters.
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The 40th periodic deeper maintenance interval (PMI) on the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of MH-60R Seahawk/Romeo helicopters has been completed at Sikorsky Australia facilities in Nowra, NSW.
The periodic maintenance interval is a two-part maintenance program involving a series of intensive activities over a seven-year cycle.
The first part of the cycle, undertaken after three-and-a-half years, involves the assessment of condition, identification of wear and tear, corrosion and fatigue and repair to baseline condition.
The second part, conducted after seven years, involves completing exterior paint strip and repaint.
Commodore Darren Rae, Director General Navy Aviation, Aircrew Training and Commons, said the Romeo maintenance program has contributed to the development of Australia’s sovereign industrial capability.
“The Romeo program is an exemplar in demonstrating the opportunities that can be available to Australian industry through foreign military sales sustainment arrangements,” CDRE Rae said.
“This is, in part, credit to our partnership and strong mateship with the United States Navy, where we actively and continually seek out opportunities to develop sovereign capability to support this important operational helicopter for Navy.”
Warren McDonald, chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia — Sikorsky Australia’s parent company — welcomed the opportunity to leverage a local workforce to strengthen the RAN’s multi-role fleet.
“We employ more than 200 people at Sikorsky Australia. They carry out deep and intermediate level maintenance on the helicopter in our world-class facility in the Shoalhaven,” McDonald said.
“Our engineers are honoured to work alongside Royal Australian Navy personnel to ensure their helicopter fleet is ready for operations. Completing the 40th PMI with Navy is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the strength of Australia’s sovereign industrial capability, right here in the Shoalhaven.
“Our aim is to provide ongoing opportunities for the local supply chain and assist with upskilling the aerospace workforce, particularly through our apprenticeship and trainee programs.”
The announcement of this latest maintenance milestone for the Romeo fleet comes less than a week after Lockheed Martin confirmed a Commonwealth government order for an additional 12 Romeo helicopters for the RAN, tipped to be worth over $2.5 billion.
The US Navy has contracted Sikorsky to produce the additional helicopters over the coming years, with delivery expected between mid-2025 and mid-2026.
The deal, which forms part of the Commonwealth government’s Project SEA 9100 Phase 1 (Improved Embarked Logistics Support Helicopter Capability) — is expected to provide the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm with a third Romeo squadron.
[Related: Lockheed Martin secures new RAN Romeo order]
