Helicopter Systems Division (HSD) was formed in 2006 to manage the acquisition and through life support of Rotary Wing Aviation systems and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Division is responsive to Chief Capability Development Group and, as appropriate, to the Service Chiefs for delivery of acquisition outcomes. The Division is also responsive to the Chief of Navy and the Chief of Army for the sustainment of in service helicopters and UAV.

HSD employs approximately 700 people working in seven locations in Australia and overseas. The Division is managing seven major capital equipment acquisition programs and several significant minor projects that are amongst the largest and most complex in Australia that in combination are worth upwards of $10 billion. The annual sustainment budget is around $450 million. This means, on average, HSD spends approximately $1 billion per financial year to acquire and sustain eight types of helicopter weapon systems, three UAV and a range of helicopter simulators and other training devices for the ADF.

HSD Headquarters

The HSD Headquarters is located at Brindabella Park in Canberra ACT and is responsible for coordinating Division-wide support including external representation on non-weapons system specific issues, management of the underlying Division business planning and procedures, financial management, performance and reporting, communications and corporate governance. The Headquarters also provides executive support to Head HSD.

Army Aviation Systems Branch

The Army Aviation Systems (AAS) Branch is responsible for managing the acquisition and through-life sustainment of Army helicopters and tactical UAV and oversees three Project Offices and four Sustainment Organisations.

AAS Branch includes an Executive and Support element located at Victoria Barracks Brisbane QLD. On the acquisition side, the Branch commands the Multi Role Helicopter Project Office (MRHPO) located at Brindabella Park in Canberra ACT, the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Project Office (ARHPO) located within the Australian Aerospace facilities at Brisbane Airport, Pinkenba QLD and the Cargo Helicopter Project Office (CHPO) located at Victoria Barracks Brisbane, QLD. Systems currently being acquired are the ARH, MRH and CH47F Chinook.

On the sustainment side, AAS Br comprises the Army Aviation Systems Program Office (AASPO) located at Oakey, QLD, the MRH Logistics Management Unit (MRHLMU) located at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Qld, the ARH Management Unit (ARHMU) located within the Australian Aerospace facilities at Brisbane Airport, Pinkenba and the Cargo Helicopter Management Unit (CHMU) located at Victoria Barracks Brisbane, QLD. Products under sustainment management are the Black Hawk, Chinook, Kiowa, MRH, ARH, Skylark UAV, ScanEagle UAV and Shadow 200 UAV.

Navy Aviation Systems Branch

The Navy Aviation Systems (NAS) Branch is responsible for managing the acquisition and through-life sustainment of Navy helicopters and oversees two Project Offices and one Sustainment Organisation.

NAS Branch includes an Executive and Support element located at Brindabella Park in Canberra, ACT. On the acquisition side, one project office (MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ (MH-60R PO)) is also located at Brindabella Park, while the other (the Helicopter Aircrew Training System Project Office (HATS PO) is located at HMAS Albatross, Nowra, NSW within the Navy Aviation Project Office (NAPO) that is, in turn, an integral part of the NAS Branch sustainment organisation (the Navy Aviation Systems Program Office (NASPO)). Systems being acquired have not been fully determined by Government but will seek to provide an anti-surface and anti-submarine helicopter and separately a training helicopter for use by both Navy and Army. Products under sustainment management within NAS Branch are the Seahawk, Sea King, Squirrel as well as aerial targets.