ALBURY, NSW, TUESDAY 25 AUGUST 2026: Lockheed Martin Australia is expanding its partnership with Albury-based aviation SME, Australian Aerospace Engineering (AAE), with AAE set to take on a new role supporting the sustainment of the Australian Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter fleet.

Under the current Black Hawk Integrated Support Contract between Lockheed Martin Australia and the Australian Army, Lockheed Martin Australia is progressing a new standing agreement with AAE to provide specialist MRO services.

The partnership expands AAE’s longstanding relationship with Lockheed Martin Australia. AAE already supplies aerospace spare parts and material support to Sikorsky Australia’s sustainment operations at Nowra, NSW, and will now expand its role into Black Hawk component sustainment.

AAE will deliver the work from its new, purpose‑built MRO facility in Albury—a 1,900m² investment that bolsters the company’s capability, workforce and the region’s growing aerospace industry. The facility brings together aircraft maintenance, component overhaul, non‑destructive testing, machining, manufacturing, spare‑parts storage, a semi‑downdraft heated spray booth and more. It provides the specialist infrastructure, tooling and workspace required to support complex aerospace MRO and manufacturing activities, with highly skilled technicians and engineers delivering the work.

Sikorsky Australia General Manager, Cliff Kyle, said, “Lockheed Martin Australia is committed to growing Australia’s sovereign rotary wing workforce and supply chain to support Army’s Black Hawks.”

“AAE is a terrific example of the specialist capability that exists within Australia’s SME sector. Expanding its role brings additional sovereign expertise and capacity in our sustainment network and helps ensure Black Hawks are available and mission-ready when the Australian Army needs them.”

AAE Chief Executive Officer, Adam Johnston, reflected that the Black Hawk opportunity marked an important milestone in the company’s growth.

“From a three‑person family business to a mature aerospace SME, we are honoured to be entrusted to deliver complex outcomes for the Australian Defence Force.”

“Our work supporting the Seahawk program and our longstanding relationship with Lockheed Martin Australia has helped us build the capability, systems and workforce to take on more complex sustainment work. Expanding into Black Hawk component MRO is an exciting next step for AAE.”

“By keeping expertise, manufacturing, and supply chain capability within Australia, we strengthen resilience in our ability to respond quickly when Defence capability is needed,” said Adam Johnston.

The partnership is part of Lockheed Martin Australia’s commitment to Australian Industry Capability, with SMEs and suppliers supporting the Black Hawk sustainment enterprise.

“As the capability expands, the fleet’s flight hours continue to develop towards an operational sustainable tempo, and the program continues to mature, we plan for Australian Industry Capability to grow in line with the program,” said Cliff Kyle.

For AAE, the partnership also represents an opportunity to grow high-skilled aerospace capability in regional Australia.

“Sovereign capability is not built only in the major cities. It is built in places like Albury, through Australian SMEs, skilled workers, local suppliers and partnerships that create enduring industrial capability,” said Adam Johnston.

To date, Australia has received 19 new UH-60M Black Hawks, and the full complement is scheduled for delivery by 2030. The fleet has officially surpassed 5,000 total flying hours in-country since the initial airframes arrived in 2023.

About Lockheed Martin Australia

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,900 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

About AAE

Australian Aerospace Engineering Pty Ltd (AAE) is an Australian-owned SME with over 20 years of experience supporting Defence and industry throughout Australia. AAE is a CASA Part 145 Approved Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisation, a CASA Part 21 approved manufacturer of aeronautical products, and a distributor of aerospace hardware. AAE’s dedication and commitment to quality and regulatory compliance have driven AAE to successfully achieve and maintain accreditation to the aerospace quality standards AS9100D, AS9110C and AS9120B. For additional information, visit: www.austaerospace.com.au