MELBOURNE, Australia, 2 March 2023 – Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand today announced that Albury-based Small to Medium Enterprise (SME), Australian Aerospace Engineering (AAE) will bolster the expansion of the Lockheed Martin Australia rotary-wing sovereign sustainment network. This collaboration will form part of Lockheed Martin Australia’s sustainment support services for the Royal Australian Navy’s growing MH-60R Seahawk fleet, and the Australian Army’s announced UH-60M Black Hawk fleet.

With extensive experience across a range of aerospace capabilities, AAE will provide Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services and spare parts provisioning support to Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, and subsidiary company, Sikorsky Australia.

The rotary-wing collaboration builds on a strong partnership between Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand and AAE. AAE is a longstanding SME supplier of aerospace spare parts to Lockheed Martin Australia, providing additional materiel support to Sikorsky Australia’s sustainment operations at Nowra, New South Wales.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s Kendell Kuczma, International Business Development Director for Rotary and Missions Systems welcomed the opportunity to expand the relationship with AAE and collaborate on the MH-60R Seahawk and UH-60M Black Hawk fleets.

“AAE have been a reputable and progressive Aerospace MRO and Distribution business within our sovereign supply chain for several years. With the expansion of capability leveraging their manufacturing approval and the increased opportunities offered through SEA 9100-1 (MH-60R) and Land 4507-1 (UH-60M), we are excited to deepen our engagement with AAE.”

A recent example of AAE’s contribution to Australia’s rotary-wing global supply chain included AAE entering a distributor agreement to work with Eaton, the world-leading Original Equipment Manufacturer of fluid conveyance products, to establish an exclusive Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Technical Standard Order (TSO) approved manufacturing capability for Aeroquip fluid conveyance hoses. These hoses are the fitted items across Sikorsky’s Black Hawk and Seahawk platforms.

Australian Aerospace Engineering’s Director and Engineering Manager, Adam Johnston said, “Australian Aerospace Engineering is excited to collaborate with Lockheed Martin Australia and work hand-in-hand with its subsidiary company, Sikorsky Australia, to support the sustainment of the Australian Defence Force’s Seahawk and Black Hawk helicopters.”

“The opportunity to work with Lockheed Martin Australia in support of the ‘Hawk’ platforms is an outstanding recognition of the commitment, effort and investment Australian Aerospace Engineering has made over the last 17 years to become a successful Defence SME.”

“To participate in Lockheed Martin Australia’s growing rotary-wing sovereign sustainment network is good news for sustaining and creating regional jobs for New South Wales and Victoria and leveraging supply chains across states,” said Mr. Johnston.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand encourages more business like AAE to register their aerospace manufacturing and sustainment expertise and capabilities via the ICN Gateway in support of sovereign rotary-wing support and global supply chain opportunities.

About Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,500 people across Australia and New Zealand working on research, design, development, logistics, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.

Lockheed Martin Australia Media Contact:

Stacey Ward, +61 439 369 305, stacey.l.ward@lmco.com

About Australian Aerospace Engineering

Australian Aerospace Engineering Pty Ltd (AAE) is a Part 145 Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility, manufacturer of aeronautical products and distributor of aerospace hardware. AAE is an Australian owned SME with 2022 marking a rich 33-year history of supporting Defence and industry in Australia. AAE holds a CASA Part 145 maintenance approval and CASA Part 21 manufacturing approval. AAE’s dedication and commitment to quality has driven AAE to successfully achieve accreditation to the aerospace quality standards AS9100D, AS9110C and AS9120B. For additional information, visit our website: www.austaerospace.com.au

Australian Aerospace Engineering Media Contact:

Viv Johnston, +61 260 262 614, viv@austaerospace.com

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