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Australia plans multiple military helicopter support competitions
Peter La Franchi / Canberra
The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation is planning to launch a competition midyear for deeper level maintenance services for Australian army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk and Boeing CH-47D Chinook aircraft.
A separate competition is expected to be launched during April to set up a standing offer arrangement for provision of maintenance services for Royal Australian Navy Westland Mk50A Sea King helicopters.
Newly released forward Defence Materiel Organisation procurement plans show new maintenance competitions are also planned for the RAN’s Sikorsky S-70-B-2 Seahawk helicopters, covering engineering and logistics support, and contractor and operational level servicing. A separate competitive tender is planned for software development and integration services for the RAN’s Seahawk software support centre, with this due for release during March.
The Chinook and Black Hawk deeper maintenance tender is planned to be issued between March and September this year. BAE Systems holds the current contract for both aircraft types.
Australia has 6 CH-47D aircraft with these forecast to fly some 1500 hours during the current Australian financial year, ending 30 June.
The army Black Hawk fleet comprises 34 aircraft with these expected to fly 7500 hours during the current financial year. As well as the BAE Systems contract the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation operates a rotating spares pool arrangement with Sikorsky Australia.
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