New deals to maintain RAAF aircraft nearly hit the $900m mark

The Federal Government has signed two aviation maintenance deals with Boeing Australia and Lockheed Martin worth more than $880m.

Recently, it signed a $569m 10-year deal with Boeing Australia to maintain the Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft.

The E-7A is a heavily-modified Boeing 737 and the new contract will secure 170 jobs in the Hunter as well as 360  at RAAF Base Williamtown and more in Brisbane and Adelaide as well.

The Wedgetail provides airborne surveillance and command. Six aircraft are operated by No. 2 Squadron at RAAF Williamtown.

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the Wedgetail’s capabilities were demonstrated when one was deployed to Europe to monitor Ukrainian airspace for Russian threats to ground supplies.

“We’ve seen how important this capability is ….” Marles says.

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy says the deal keeps highly-skilled workers in the 10,000-strong defence workforce in the Hunter.

“This funding supports a critical capability that keeps Australians safe but is also critical for the financial security of hundreds of people across the country, including in the Hunter.”

HELICOPTER DEAL

The federal Government recently signed a $313.5m maintenance deal with Lockheed Martin for its MH-60R Seahawk helicopter fleet.

The contract with Sikorsky Australia (a Lockheed Martin subsidiary) will create 75 jobs, including 20 apprenticeships, and support 200 more highly-skilled jobs at the company’s maintenance and logistics facility in Nowra.

The funding should also secure the Nowra facility’s future as a potential maintenance hub for the US Navy to repair and upgrade its helicopters in this part of the region.

Seahawk duties include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, supply, passenger and cargo transfer, and search and rescue missions.

Australia operates 23 Seahawks out of Nowra with another 13 aircraft to be delivered by the end of 2026