Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky Australia has secured a three-year contract, valued at A$313.5m ($194.58m), to continue providing services for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters.
The new contract will create more than 75 new jobs, in addition to existing workforce of 200, at Sikorsky Australia’s Maintenance and Logistics Support facility in Nowra, Australia.
The expansion will include roles such as aircraft maintenance engineers, logisticians, and skilled aviation technicians to support the RAN’s growing fleet, which is set to increase from 23 to 36 aircraft by the end of 2026.
In addition to workforce growth, Sikorsky Australia plans to expand its regional supply chain of 60 small-to-medium enterprises by more than 50% to accommodate the increased fleet size and corresponding sustainment operations.
Working alongside the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm, the company will provide through-life support, encompassing maintenance, training, warehousing, supply, and engineering services for the MH-60R Seahawk fleet, both on base and during deployment.
The contract also positions Sikorsky Australia as a potential regional sustainment hub, following its successful completion of the first deep maintenance activity on a US Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter in 2023, in collaboration with the Australian and US Navies.
The MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopter is equipped with advanced digital sensors and a fully integrated mission system, capable of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
The aircraft’s arsenal includes torpedoes, air-to-ground missiles, rockets, and crew-served guns.
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Warren McDonald said: “We are proud to be extending our partnership with the Royal Australian Navy.”
“For over 30 years, Sikorsky Australia has proudly sustained the Royal Australian Navy’s Seahawks and the Australian Army’s Black Hawk helicopters, while steadily building its sovereign industrial base.”
“The recent contract reinforces the enduring partnership between Sikorsky Australia and the Royal Australian Navy to successfully sustain the Seahawks, a world-class maritime platform that brings unparalleled anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities to Australia, the US Navy and navies across the globe.”
In January 2025, BAE Systems Maritime Australia contracted L3Harris Technologies to supply the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for the RAN’s Hunter-class frigates.
This system, previously developed for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates, will manage the ships’ propulsion, power generation, and auxiliary systems, enhancing their performance, reliability, and safety.
