Australian manufacturing and aerospace sustainment capability is set to expand under a proposed new agreement between Lockheed Martin Australia and Rosebank Engineering to provide engineering and maintenance support for the Australian Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter fleet.
According to Lockheed Martin Australia, the standing agreement would see Rosebank Engineering provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support for Black Hawk flight control, mechanical, environmental and landing gear systems. The work would include inspection, repair, overhaul, testing, manufacturing and engineering support.
Future work would be carried out at Rosebank Engineering’s MRO facilities in Bayswater and Airport West in Victoria, and Bundamba in Queensland, adding multiple locations to the Black Hawk sustainment network.
Lockheed Martin Australia Black Hawk Program Manager Rodahn Gibbon said the partnership would add capacity to the domestic sustainment network.
“The partnership would add depth and flexibility to Australia’s Black Hawk sustainment capability,” Gibbon said.
“Army’s Black Hawk fleet is growing, and we’re focused on growing Australia’s industrial base alongside it.”
Rosebank Engineering brings a 190-strong workforce spanning aviation maintenance, engineering, manufacturing, quality and supply chain roles. Lockheed Martin Australia said the agreement would also support investment in workforce development, apprenticeships, tooling, test equipment and facility capability.
Gibbon said Rosebank Engineering’s experience would contribute to the broader sustainment network.
“Rosebank Engineering brings 50 years of homegrown operational MRO expertise, which adds invaluable skills to the sustainment network,” he said.
Rosebank Engineering General Manager Aidan Butler-Bonnice said the company’s experience across other Australian Defence platforms would support its work on the Black Hawk fleet.
“The opportunity to support the Black Hawk fleet draws on our company’s experience supporting major Defence platforms such as the F/A-18, C-130Js, CH-47 Chinooks, S-70B Seahawks and more,” Butler-Bonnice said.
He said retaining repair work in Australia could also strengthen connections across the domestic aerospace and defence supply chain.
“Equally, keeping more repair work in country also strengthens the relationships we have with hundreds of Australian suppliers and industry partners supporting aerospace and defence sustainment capabilities for the Australian Defence Force,” Butler-Bonnice said.
The proposed collaboration forms part of Lockheed Martin Australia’s broader Black Hawk sustainment strategy, alongside Australian Aerospace Engineering and Sikorsky Australia, with the companies providing complementary MRO capabilities.
Lockheed Martin Australia said the expanded network is intended to support a more resilient sovereign sustainment ecosystem for the Black Hawk fleet.
