By Tim Fish in Surfer's Paradise
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) head of maritime aviation has confirmed the service has a preference for the direct acquisition of 12 additional MRH90s from Eurocopter to replace its Westland Sea King 50s.
The confirmation comes ahead of expected deliberation on Australia’s Project Air 9000 helicopter rationalisation plan by the Australian cabinet’s national security committee within the coming weeks. This will also make a decision on whether to upgrade the Australian army’s Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk utility helicopters or replace them with MRH90s – modified NH Industries NH90s – and on whether to accept a US Army offer to supply secondhand Boeing CH-47D Chinooks.
Cdre Tim Barrett, head of RAN aviation, told Shephard’s Heli-Pacific conference on the Australian Gold Coast last week that the service’s planned construction of two new amphibious warfare ships is providing the service with an opportunity to improve its rotary-wing capabilities.
Barrett says his preferred option for the Sea King replacement is “12 marinised MRH90 helicopters”. This would leverage the Australian army’s current order for 12 MRH90s and support ongoing plans to reduce the number of helicopter types operated by the Australian Defence Forces. “We need to rationalise training and logistics management to increase capability,” says Barrett, who adds that the use of a common type would increase inter-service co-operation while maintaining a separation of command.
Brendan Roberts, managing director of Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace, says the potential for Black Hawk and Sea King replacement orders could eventually expand local orders to around 46 aicraft. A common order for the MRH90 would “reap massive commonality benefits, especially [in] training aircrews and technicians,” he adds. It would also prompt Australian Aerospace to invest an additional A$50-60 million ($30-45 million) in its facilities, says Roberts.
Sikorsky officials at the conference confirmed the company is proposing a phased remanufacturing programme for the army’s Black Hawk fleet, with this including options to supply additional airframes to replace the RAN’s Sea Kings. The company’s Brisbane-based Helitech subsidiary would carry out most of the fleet upgrade and provide through-life support.
Source: Flight International
