The first of Australia’s 46 MRH-90 helicopters, conducts its maiden flight in Marignane, France

It is now just over a year since DMO’s Helicopter Systems Division (HSD) was formed under the leadership of Major General Tony Fraser. The Division comprises the Navy and Army rotary wing elements, previously part of Aerospace Systems Division (ASD). Major General Fraser, an accomplished military aviator and qualified flying instructor with nearly 30 years flying experience, is supported by Commodore Mark Campbell (Director General Navy Aviation Systems Branch) and Brigadier Andrew Dudgeon (Director General Army Aviation Systems Branch). A new branch, Helicopter Materiel Management (HMM) Branch, will be established shortly.

The separation from ASD has had minimal direct impact on individual project offices. It has, however, allowed more time for internal executive oversight of helicopter matters and contract performance, according to Major General Fraser.

“Importantly, separation from ASD has also provided greater access to the executive level for industry,” he said. “Interaction with industry is essential to DMO’s ability to continue to support and to better coordinate the future direction of the ADF’s helicopter capability. It is critical that we are able to focus the capacity of the Division so that we can support our Defence Force by providing them with the helicopter capability projects and sustainment to support our sailors and soldiers.”

A recent visit by three ‘Tiger’ Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) in Darwin demonstrates that this new Army capability is gaining momentum and to date, the Army has taken delivery of nine of the total 22 helicopters. In addition to this, the Hellfire missile system was tested in a highly successful test firing campaign that took place in late 2006. Whilst there is still work to be done to achieve certification, the eight hellfires, fired at ranges of six to eight kilometers, including one at night, all struck the target with lethal precision. These milestones are crucial to the project’s success and a credit to the efforts of both our project team and industry partner, Australian Aerospace.”

The AIR 9000 Multi Role Helicopter Project will acquire a total of 46 MRH-90 and support systems for both Army and Navy. The first two of four MRH-90 helicopters to be built in France arrived in Brisbane aboard an Antonov aircraft on 13 November 2007. In-Service Delivery of the two helicopters remains on a tight schedule for 18 December 2007. The remaining 42 aircraft will be assembled in Australia at the Australian Aerospace facility in Brisbane.

The rapid acquisition of Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to support operations in the Middle East; ongoing sustainment for Skylark UAV, Black Hawk and recently completed Kiowa operations in East Timor; remediation, upgrade and preparation for redeployment of Chinook; and embarkations to support Navy deployments to the Gulf are also positive examples of progress being made by the Division.

Although, it has been an eventful year for the Division, with a mixture of successes and challenges, Major General Fraser is positive about the direction of his Division. “I want to emphasise the continued hard work and dedication of HSD staff, our industry partners and the DMO Executive in ensuring that progress and success continue for the Division’s projects.”

“Support during our transition to become a semi-self sufficient Division has been positively maintained by ASD, for which I am very grateful. Moreover, understanding and assistance from the CEO DMO Dr Stephen Gumley, Ms Jane Wolfe General Manager – Corporate and Mr Kim Gillis General Manager - Systems continue to be encouraging and helpful.”

“I am proud of the opportunity to be the head of this new Division, and of the excellent work of our System Program Offices and projects.”