MH-60R early morning flight operations at sea

DEFENCE CONNECT: Sikorsky Australia, has been awarded a new three-year contract worth AU$313.5 million to continue its long-standing maintenance and sustainment partnership with the Royal Australian Navy to support the MH-60R Romeo Seahawk helicopter fleet. The sustainment contract will create over 75 new jobs in Nowra at Sikorsky Australia’s maintenance and logistics support facility, building on its existing workforce of 200. As part of this, the company will expand its team of aircraft maintenance engineers, logisticians and skilled aviation technicians to support the RAN’s growing fleet, which is set to increase from 23 to 36 MH-60R Seahawks by the end of 2026. A strong commitment to workforce development remains central to Sikorsky Australia’s strategy, with apprenticeship and traineeship programs making up approximately 20 per cent of its maintenance workforce. These initiatives play a crucial role in ensuring the company is well-positioned to meet future operational demands.

To support the growing fleet size, Sikorsky Australia will expand its regional supply chain of 60 small-to-medium enterprises by more than 50 per cent, strengthening sustainment operations across the program. Integrated with the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm, Sikorsky Australia will continue providing through-life sustainment support for the MH-60R Seahawks, including maintenance, training, warehousing, supply and engineering services, both on base and during deployments.

The MH-60R Seahawk helicopter provides the Royal Australian Navy with a world-leading anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, bringing advanced capabilities to navies worldwide. Built on four decades of Seahawk expertise, the aircraft features cutting-edge digital sensors, including:

• Multi-mode radar, electronic support measures, electro-optical/infrared camera, datalinks and aircraft survivability systems
• Advanced sonar and sonobuoy systems for undersea warfare
• A fully integrated mission system that processes sensor data to create a comprehensive operational picture of the ocean surface and subsea domain
• A weapons suite that includes torpedoes, air-to-ground missiles, rockets and crew-served guns, enabling effective engagement of surface and subsurface threats.