PERTH, 6 OCTOBER 2026 – Lockheed Martin Australia, in partnership with the Australian Army, has launched Australia’s first apprenticeship and trainee program dedicated to developing the next generation of skilled Australian engineers and logisticians supporting the sustainment of the Australian Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk fleet.

Backed by the Australian Army’s $1.3 million investment, Lockheed Martin Australia is working to grow the apprentice and trainee pipeline across the Black Hawk fleet, creating a skilled workforce alongside the expanding capability.

Six new aircraft maintenance engineer apprentices have joined Lockheed Martin Australia in 2026 and are now embedded with the Australian Army at Holsworthy Base. The apprentices start a four-year course that combines formal training with hands-on experience.

The apprentices will attain the specialist skills required to inspect, service, repair, test and troubleshoot aircraft systems and components as they work alongside seasoned aviation professionals.

Lockheed Martin Australia Black Hawk Program Manager, Rodahn Gibbon said, “Introducing six new aircraft maintenance engineer apprentices into the Black Hawk program is an important investment.”

“Over the next four years, they’ll develop the expertise and knowledge required to support the Black Hawk fleet, while growing the depth of experience we need as the fleet matures.”

The new aircraft maintenance engineer cohort builds on the program’s first three logistician trainees, who commenced in June 2025 and have now successfully completed their training. The trainees completed a 12-month Certificate IV in Supply Chain Operations, gaining mission-critical skills to inspect, track, and manage high-value, regulated military aircraft components at Lockheed Martin Australia’s Black Hawk logistics warehouse in Sydney.

The Black Hawk workforce plan leverages Sikorsky Australia’s long-term expertise developing aviation maintenance and logistics professionals through its Seahawk apprenticeship program.

In 2026, Sikorsky Australia onboarded six new Seahawk apprentices. Its early career program now employs 17 apprentices, representing approximately 20% of the technical workforce and an annual investment of more than $1 million. To date the Seahawk apprenticeship program has produced 17 fully qualified aircraft technicians.

Sikorsky Australia General Manager, Cliff Kyle, said “Building the workforce behind the aircraft is fundamental to sustaining ‘Hawk’ capability in Australia.”

“Our apprenticeship and trainee programs form a core pillar of our future workforce strategy. They give us the opportunity to develop the technical skills, ability, and culture we need to support the Australian Defence Force’s ‘Hawk’ capabilities and create highly skilled careers for Australians.”

“Through our Seahawk program, we’ve seen the energy, diversity, and fresh perspectives apprentices bring to the workforce. It’s really powerful to see the positive impact they have in strengthening and influencing the broader team. We’re now bringing that experience to the Black Hawk program, fostering a skilled workforce that will be critical to maintaining these fleets for decades to come.”

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.

Media Contacts

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