The contract is a key component of Boeing’s participation in the Australian government’s Global Supply Chain Program, which aims to enhance collaboration with local suppliers and strengthen the Australian defence industry.
The subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which sustains and maintains the Australian Defence Force’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter fleet, is expected to provide another 100 positions of growth by 2028, including 60 roles in maintenance.
The Australian government has expressed its concerns to the Chinese government following the incident involving People’s Liberation Army–Air Force aircraft on 19 October this year. The RAAF aircraft was operating within international law while conducting a maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea at the time.
The fit-for-purpose facilities and infrastructure to support the introduction into service of the MQ-4C Triton aircraft system is being delivered under the Department of Defence’s AIR7000 Phase 1B Project.
The squadron has been returned to service to improve Australia’s maritime surveillance capability and coincide with the arrival of Australia’s thirteenth P-8A Poseidon aircraft. A final aircraft is scheduled to arrive next year.
The milestone, using multiple drones to ferry loads up to 100kg, is envisioned to enable drones to complete missions previously limited to helicopters or large bespoke airframes.
iscover
