News

Australia plans new A$403 million helicopter fleet sustainment spend

May 15, 2009

The Australian Defence Material Organisation is forecasting combined sustainment costs of $A403 million (US$304 million) during FY2009-2010 for the Australian defence forces Eurocopter Tiger and MRH90 and Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk and S-70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters.

Australia’s defence budget for FY2009-2010, released this week, reveals that sustainment costs for the MRH-90 are alone projected at A$127 million (US$96 million) for the twelve month period commencing 1 July this year.

The budget papers link the planned spend with efforts to ramp up flying hours for all four aircraft types.

Sustainment spending on the Australian Army’s Tiger helicopters is projected to reach A$107 million (US$81 million).

Sustainment outlays for Seahawk are projected at A$85 million (US$64 million) while Black Hawk is expected to require outlays of A$84 million (US$63.45 million).

The Australian department of defence has become increasingly vocal about its concerns on rates of effort being achieved by MRH-90 and Tiger aircraft in recent months.

The new budget papers caution that while increased flying hours are being achieved by the MRH-90 as a result of joint work by Eurocopter’s Australian Aerospace subsidiary, “a further increase will be required to complete the initial training and test and evaluation activities to achieve the initial operational capability for the navy in 2010 and the army in 2011.”

The Australian army expects to achieve 2,820 flying hours with a fleet of 15 MRH-90s during the course of 2009-2010 according to the budget papers. That target is a 470 percent increase over the expected outcome of just 600 hours in the current financial year, being flown with just two aircraft.

The army expects to have 23 aircraft in service during 2010-2011 with the fleet forecast to achieve 4,090 flying hours. By 2011-2012 the fleet will comprise 30 aircraft with 5,290 flying hours forecast. The mature fleet of 37 aircraft is expected to achieve an annual 6,190 flying hours per year from 2012-2013 the budget papers say.

Australia’s Tigers are this year forecast to achieve a mature 6000 flying hours per annum, up by 480 hours from the anticipated result of 5520 hours in the current financial year.

Budget papers advise that last years’ settlement with Australian Aerospace is resulting in a reduction of overall Tiger programme risk with this assisted by “the introduction of performance penalties in the renegotiated through life support contract.

“Spares availability is improving as a result of through-life support contract changes and improved contract performance measures. However further supply system improvement will be required to ensure sufficient aircraft are available for key operational testing activities in the fourth quarter of 2009.”

Army’s Black Hawk aircraft fleet is is forecast to achieve 8,600 flying hours in the new financial year, up from an anticipated 7,500 in the current period.

Budget papers warn that “sustainment of the army’s Black Hawk fleet has required very close management due to the high level of operational tasking, pressure on the deeper maintenance schedule and availability of spares which are also in high demand for the US army fleet.

“Selected upgrades will continue until 2010-2011 to address system obsolescence issues to ensure operational viability is maintained until the Black Hawk is replaced”.

The army’s Boeing B-206 Kiowa aircraft fleet will this year commence a major ramp down as that type is withdrawn from operational roles to focus on training. The fleet comprises 41 aircraft and is expected to achieve 10,360 flying hours by 30 June. The FY2009-2010 flying hours target is projected to reduce by 35% to 6750 fleet flying hours.

Forecast flying hours for the army’s six Boeing Ch-47D aircraft are expected to be maintained at the current annual fleet average of 1570 flying hours.

The navy’s six Westland Mk50A Sea Kings are expected to achieve 1,100 flying hours during the current financial year and sustain that output during FY2009-2010. However this will fall to a projected 750 flying hours in FY2010-2011 and 400 flying hours in FY2011-2012 after which the type will be withdrawn from service.

Navy’s Aerospatiale AS350 Squirrel fleet currently totals 13 aircraft with this forecast to achieve 3,200 flying hours in the current financial year and 3,600 flying hours in FY2009-2010 and FY2010-2011. The budget papers forecast an increase of annual rate of effort for the type to 4,000 flying hours from FY2011-2012 to support increased pilot training requirements.

By Peter La Franchi / Canberra