Australian Aerospace full-on for Aussie project
Australian Aerospace has lobbed the first public shots in the contest between USA and European aerospace groups for the government’s AIR 9000 Phase 8 program, pushing on-shore manufacture and jobs building the NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) for the RAN’s Navy combat helicopter project.
An operational NH90 NFH from the Italian Navy was in Brisbane today for a series of demonstration flights for defence chiefs, government officials, business leaders and the public.
Billing itself as “Australia’s only helicopter producer,” AA today announced plans that would create 750 more Australian highly-skilled aerospace jobs. 250 of these would be at the company’s Brisbane helicopter assembly plant, where the company is already assembling Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters for the Australian Army, as well as assembling EC120B civil helicopters.
AA says its plans would inject a further $1.2 billion into the Australian economy over 15 years through the NH90 NFH program, in addition to the $2 billion of economic activity it is already to the Australian economy through its other military helicopter programs.
Chief Executive Officer Dr Jens Goennemann says a Federal Government decision to buy the NH90 NFH for the RAN would be a massive boost to the Queensland economy and the nation’s aerospace industry:
“The job creation and investment Australian Aerospace is planning in Queensland and across the nation is unmatched in the helicopter industry,” Dr Goennemann says. “Our competitor’s helicopters are built in the United States – so there’s a straight choice between creating jobs in Australia and jobs in the US.
“Australian Aerospace has established a successful partnership with the Queensland government and together we have an enviable track record of increasing investment and employment in the state.”
Dr Goennemann says the NH90 NFH is the ideal project to continue the momentum of its investment in Queensland.
“The NH90 NFH is, without doubt, the most technically-advanced anti-submarine, anti-surface ship combat helicopter in its class,” he adds. “It has world-leading performance which would take Australian naval aviation to a new level of operational capability. It also features 80% commonality with the MRH90 multi-role helicopter which Australian Aerospace is now delivering to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This will help the Federal Government achieve its aim of increasing effectiveness and efficiency by reducing the variety of helicopters in service with the ADF.”
AA says the Sikorsky Lockheed Martin MH-60R was designed nearly 40 years ago, and that its NH90 is now ideally situated as the new RAN combat helicopter to replace the ageing Seahawk and cancelled Super Seasprite helicopters:
“The NH90 NFH, produced by Australian Aerospace and NH Industries, is the most modern and technically advanced naval helicopter in the world – it has a corrosion-resistant composite material air frame, fly-by-wire technology, the latest safety systems and powerful weapons systems, as well as much greater capacity and flexibility than its competitor.
“The NH90 NFH features 80% commonality with the Australian MRH90 version of the NH90 platform, with a custom-made mission system. The primary missions of the NH90 NFH are anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface ship warfare. The helicopter’s weapons system allows it to conduct maritime surveillance and utility operations, anti-submarine warfare with up to two torpedoes, anti-surface ship warfare with up to two anti-ship missiles, anti-surface warfare – detecting, tracking, classification, identification and attack on hostile vessels using over-the-horizon capability.
“It also can operate combined operations with one torpedo and one anti-ship missile. The NH90 NFH’s secondary ship-borne and land-based roles include vertical replenishment, search and rescue, troop transport and civil disaster relief operations. Six fully equipped combat troops can be carried, along with full anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface ship warfare equipment, which would allow NFH helicopters in RAN service to more efficiently conduct all missions now requiring a mix of Seahawks and the defunct Super Seasprites. Low risk and survivability are enhanced by a corrosion-immune, full-composite airframe, fully-redundant fly-by-wire controls to reduce crew workload, efficient emergency floatation gear, one-engine-out fly-away performance and stringent crashworthiness standards.
Australian Aerospace Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter – a part of the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Group (EADS). Created in 2003 through the merger of Eurocopter International Pacific Limited and Australian Aerospace Pty Ltd, the company has evolved into a major defence supplier to the Australian Government.
More than 110 NH90 NFH helicopters are now entering service with five navies.
