QUEENSLAND, 8 July 2025 – Lockheed Martin Australia congratulates the Australian Army on the rapid establishment of a second operating node for the UH-60M Black Hawks in South East Queensland’s Swartz Barracks, Oakey.

The second node ensures the steady growth of high-skilled rotary-wing industry roles across regional Queensland. It builds upon Lockheed Martin Australia, and its company Sikorsky Australia’s, sustainment support for the ‘Hawk’ family of helicopters in Australia.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s Chief Executive Warren McDonald commended the Australian Army on the UH-60M Black Hawk program achievement.

“The culmination of the Australian Army announcing initial operating capability for the UH-60M Black Hawks in February together with launching a second aviation operating node is significant. It showcases Army’s expertise and steadfast commitment to delivering critical capability at speed to protect Australia.”

As the sovereign industry partner providing integrated support services to the Black Hawks, Lockheed Martin Australia has quickly grown the industrial workforce to 170 employees across the program since mid-2023. In Oakey, Lockheed Martin Australia has secured 45 skilled maintenance, operations, supply and training support employees, which is set to increase to 75 by mid-2026.

In March 2025, Lockheed Martin Australia established a new custom-fit logistics warehouse facility in Sydney to support the operational readiness of the Black Hawk Fleet across Australia.

McDonald added, “As the manufacturer of the UH-60M Black Hawk, we deeply understand the asset and are committed to providing trusted sustainment support services to the Australia Army with ongoing reliability, speed, and affordability.”

Lockheed Martin Australia’s Black Hawk Program Manager, Rodahn Gibbon reflected, “It’s incredibly motivating to see the Australian Army’s Black Hawk program expand on the ground in Oakey.”

“Over the last 12 months, Lockheed Martin Australia has been laser focused on establishing a capable and qualified workforce of aircraft maintenance engineers, logisticians, and aircrew to support the Australian Army.”

“We are proud to contribute to the sustainment effort in Oakey, which generates promising job prospects for aviation professionals in the region,” said Rodahn Gibbon.

About the UH-60M Black Hawk

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, designs, manufactures and sustains the UH-60Ms, the most advanced Black Hawk helicopter, incorporating decades of rotary technological advancements. Expected to operate into the 2070s, the Sikorsky Black Hawk is a dependable and versatile battlefield and special forces aviation asset for 36 countries around the world including Australia. Modernisation efforts now underway will make the aircraft more powerful, survivable and improve maintenance and sustainability, benefitting the global Hawk fleets.

About Lockheed Martin Australia

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,600 people in Australia working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, Defence and civil sectors. 

Lockheed Martin Australia Media Contact:

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