Sharing the vision of AIR 9000
In July and September 2003, Australian Aerospace presented its vision for AIR 9000 to over 150 Australian Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) companies in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. The information sessions were organised and supported by the Australian Industry Group (AIG). The presentations were conducted to inform Australian SMEs about the requirements for the AIR 9000 Program and for those companies to make themselves known to Australian Aerospace. The information session was conducted in three parts:
Overview:
An outline of Australian Aerospace, its parents Eurocopter and EADS, and its current contract activity, including Air87 ARH Tiger Project, RAAF Caribou and Orion aircraft.
The NH90:
An outline of the NATO Helicopter Development Program, the partner NHIndustries’ companies and their work-share, the capabilities of the NH90 helicopter and technology linkages to the ARH Tiger Program.
Air9000:
This session outlined the Expectations of the Customer, the interaction with Australian industry required under the Program, and the concept of a Long Term Strategic Partnership. This session concluded with an overview of the Australian Industry Involvement requirements of the Commonwealth and the potential for work to flow to Australian industry.
Awarding Australian Aerospace with MRH 90 Contracts:
The Australian Government decided to award the AIR 9000 Phase 2 contracts (Acquisition and Sustainment) to Australian Aerospace with the acquisition of 12 MRH 90 helicopters and the Support of these helicopters for 10 years. The Phase 2 contracts were signed on 2 June 2005. AIR 9000 Phase 2 covered the requirement to support one Army flying Squadron of aircraft with its associated support equipment and spares.
Australian Aerospace in early 2006 submitted a proposal to provide an additional 34 MRH 90 helicopters to Australian Government required under Phases 4 and 6 of AIR 9000. On 30 June 2006, Australian Aerospace and Australian Government agreed to extend the Acquisition and Support contracts to cover the AIR 9000 requirements for Phases 4 and 6. Phase 4 supplemented the Phase 2 MRH 90 aircraft to replace the Australian Army’s Blackhawk fleet. Phase 6 provides the Navy with six MRH 90 helicopters to replace the Navy’s Sea King fleet.
A total of 46 MRH 90 will be produced, 4 manufactured in Europe and 42 at Australian Aerospace facility in Brisbane between 2007 and 2014.