Media Release

Australia's Defence Acquisition Organisation (DAO) and Turbomeca today signed the third Deed of Agreement under the Government's new Defence Industry Investment Recognition (DIIREC) Scheme. The signing was timed to coincide with the opening of Turbomeca Australasia's new facilities at Bankstown Airport, Sydney.

The scheme is an important Defence initiative under the Defence and Industry Strategic Policy Statement released last year. It provides recognition to overseas companies that invest in Australian industry to develop and sustain Australian defence capability.

DAO's Head of Industry and Procurement Infrastructure, Dr Graham Kearns, welcomed Turbomeca's commitment to Australian defence industry. He looks forward to a local relationship that will result in long-term support to Defence, building on the support previously provided by the parent company in France. He also expressed strong support for the export potential of the initiative.

Turbomeca has established an Arriel repair and overhaul centre in Australia to further develop its support of Arriel engines in Australasia (some 250 engines) and to establish a base to develop new Australian Industry Involvement (AII) activities for future Defence acquisition programmes. The Arriel engine is in service in Eurocopter Squirrel, EC Dauphin and S.76 helicopters in the region. Users include the Australian Defence Forces, Helicopters (New Zealand) Ltd and Pacific Helicopters (PNG).

By undertaking the investment to establish a regional Turbomeca engine facility, Turbomeca has provided Australia with:

• An import replacement activity,
• A significant regional export opportunity, and
• Up to date technological expertise that will have spin-off effects on Australian subcontractors.

Managing Director of Turbomeca Australasia Mr Michel Brouquet expressed his pleasure in Turbomeca choosing Sydney to build the new facility.

"This facility has greatly improved our capability to provide local support to our customers." he said. "To our customers, both civil and military, let me assure you that we are dedicated to providing you with a full local support service equal in quality to what you have come to expect from France."

Turbomeca is the first French company to sign a DIIREC agreement with Defence. Its President and CEO, Mr Jean-Bernard Cocheteux, is visiting Australia for the formal opening of Turbomeca Australasia's new facilities. At the opening ceremony Mr Cocheteux spoke of the international scope of Turbomeca and its parent company, Labinal.

"Labinal is genuinely international, with more than 16 000 of its staff outside France. Turbomeca is represented in 120 countries, and has subsidiaries in 10," he said. "This new facility has a staff of 15, and supports operators in Australia, New Zealand, PNG, Fiji and the French Pacific islands. The role of this facility is already growing, with the Microturbo auxiliary power units of the RAAF's new BAe Hawk aircraft to be maintained here."

He also spoke of the role of the DIIREC Scheme, in encouraging overseas prime manufacturers to invest in Australian Industry to provide local support for Defence equipment.

The DIIREC Scheme provides overseas companies with the opportunity to gain formal recognition for investments in Australian industry which will be accepted as a measure of confidence in source selection for any future relevant capital acquisition and logistics contracts.

Further information:

Defence Acquisition Organisation

Peter Sidman
Phone +61 2 6265 1259 Fax +61 2 6266 7646
Email peter.sidman@cbr.defence.gov.au

Turbomeca Australasia

Michel Brouquet
Phone +61 2 9791 6700 Fax +61 2 9791 6708
Email tmaasia@interconnect.com.au

Issued by the Defence Public Affairs Organisation, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600

back