Extra Lift
Volume 11, No. 45, June 15, 2006
By Barry Rollings
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Sneak preview: A full-scale mock-up of the MRH 90 on display in Townsville. |
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Talking point: Defence Minister Brendan Nelson with PM John Howard and VCDF Lt-Gen Ken Gillespie at the announcement in Canberra.Photo by Kev Piggott.
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THE announcement of the $2 billion acquisition of 34 twin-engine MRH 90 helicopters to replace Army’s Black Hawk and Navy’s Seaking helicopters marks a new era for rotary-wing tactical transport for the ADF.
PM John Howard and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson announced the purchase at Defence HQ in Canberra on June 19. The 34 aircraft are in addition to 12 MRHs already contracted under Phase 2 of Project Air 9000.
Project Air 9000 MRH 90 Verification and Validation Manager of Maj Cameron Gillard said when combined with delivery of the already-contracted the fleet of 46 aircraft would provide the ADF with a much-enhanced tactical transport capability.
“The MRH 90, based on the German Tactical Transport Helicopter version of the NH Industries NH 90 aircraft, will provide the airmobile, maritime support and special operations roles for the ADF,” Maj Gillard said.
“The joint operation of this fleet by Army and Navy will realise substantial efficiencies across the fundamental inputs to capability and allow greater flexibility to be achieved by that mature capability.
“The NH 90 program originally began as a maritime helicopter project and a significant level of marinisation has been incorporated into the aircraft design. This will benefit the maritime support role, but also the increasing amphibious emphasis to be placed on Army with the introduction into service of the Future Amphibious Transport ships,” Maj Gillard said.
He said the fly-by-wire technology used by the MRH 90 would allow the full benefits of a digitised platform to be realised, increasing safety and the ability to perform the mission in difficult and challenging circumstances.
“Increased situational awareness is achieved with a helmet-mounted sight and display, an integrated electronic warfare self-protection suite, airborne mission management system via multi-function displays, forward-looking infra-red and variable message format data link,” he said.
“The MRH 90 will allow the fitting of a significant range of role and mission equipment, including MAG58 machine guns, sniper bars, fast roping and rappelling devices and 500L external fuel tanks.
“The large, flexible rear cabin will provide seating for up to 20 personnel clean skin – or 14 in patrol order, and the availability of a rear ramp will allow safer, more efficient entry/exit of troops and small vehicles.”
He said the in-service date for the MRH 90 capability would be December 17, 2007. Initial deliveries would support a training capability in Townsville, followed by aircraft allocation to 817 Sqn to provide an interim operational MSH capability by the end of 2010.
PM John Howard said the 34 additional European MRH 90s would be assembled in Brisbane. When delivered, the MRH 90 aircraft will be based at RAAF base Townsville, Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney for 4RAR (Cdo), a joint Army-Navy training facility at Oakey in Queensland and at HMAS Albatross in Nowra to replace the Sea King. The Sea Kings will be retired in 2010, followed by the Black Hawks which will be progressively replaced between 2011 and 2015.
The announcement of the MRH 90 acquisition does not affect the $92m aviation facility being built at Holsworthy, as the project already has taken the arrival of MRH 90 into account.
Dr Nelson said $30 million would be invested for training and simulator facilities at Oakey and $30 million at Townsville for simulator storage and maintenance.
Manufacturer of the MRH 90, Eurocopter, says the expanding local production and support for the MRH 90s will make Australia one of the cornerstones of the global supply chain, with the vehicle fully inter-operable with NATO and coalition forces.
