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The Lockheed Martin subsidiary has been selected to provide ongoing sustainment support to the Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Romeo fleet.
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The US Navy has awarded a $10 million contract extension to Sikorsky Australia for the local sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of 24 MH-60R Romeo multi-mission helicopters.
The sustainment contract, delivered through a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement with the US Navy, forms part of a broader push to enhance opportunities for Australian industries.
Sikorsky Australia is expected to undertake ongoing sustainment support from its maintenance, logistics and repair facility in Nowra, NSW.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the contract extension would generate 10 new jobs in the Shoalhaven region.
“This new contract recognises the increased skill and expertise of the Australian workforce as this would previously have been completed in the United States,” Minister Price said.
“The increase in services provided by Sikorsky Australia will continue to boost Australia’s defence industry and broaden the ongoing opportunities available to local companies to support the Romeo fleet.”
Minister Price acknowledged the critical role played by US Navy in supporting Australia’s Defence capability.
“The broad scope and enduring nature of the Australia-United States Alliance offers mutual benefit to both our nations,” she added.
“This allows for the ongoing provision of support to Australia’s next-generation maritime combat helicopters.
“The contract expansion demonstrates the strong ties between our navies and highlights the internationally recognised strength of Australia’s defence industry.”
Senator for NSW and retired Major General Jim Molan welcomed the contract expansion, which he said is a “real win for the region”.
“The Morrison government is continuing to back local businesses and local jobs and this contract is recognition by the US Navy of the substantial expertise which we have in the Shoalhaven region from the $270 billion investment in Australia’s defence capability,” he said.
The MH-60R Romeo multi-mission helicopters, which first entered service in 2013, provides submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare capability.
The MH-60R is equipped with advanced combat systems, designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo.
The helicopters are primarily deployed in anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare missions, but are also used for search and rescue, logistics support, personnel transport and medical evacuation.
[Related: Sikorsky demonstrates S-97 RAIDER capability]
