750 JOBS PLANNED AS WORLD-LEADING NAVY COMBAT HELICOPTER IS UNVEILED AT BRISBANE AIRPORT

Australian Aerospace, Australia’s only helicopter producer, today announced plans to create 750 highly-skilled jobs to build the NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

More than 250 of those long-term jobs would be at the company’s helicopter assembly plant in Brisbane.

Australian Aerospace has revealed plans to inject a further $1.2 billion into the Australian economy over 15 years through the NH90 NFH program. This is in addition to the $2 billion of economic activity Australian Aerospace already is contributing to the Australian economy through its other military helicopter programs.

The major job creation and investment announcement came as an NH90 NFH was today seen flying in Australia for the first time, touching down at Brisbane Airport with Deputy Queensland Premier Paul Lucas on board.

Under the AIR 9000 Phase 8 program, the Federal Government is considering the NH90 NFH and the Sikorsky Lockheed Martin MH-60R, which was designed nearly 40 years ago, as the new RAN combat helicopter to replace the ageing Seahawk and cancelled Super Seasprite helicopters.

Australian Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Dr Jens Goennemann says a Federal Government decision to buy the NH90 NFH for the RAN would be a massive boost to the Queensland economy and the nation’s aerospace industry.

“The job creation and investment Australian Aerospace is planning in Queensland and across the nation is unmatched in the helicopter industry,” Dr Goennemann says. “Our competitor’s helicopters are built in the United States – so there’s a straight choice between creating jobs in Australia and jobs in the US.

“Australian Aerospace has established a successful partnership with the Queensland government and together we have an enviable track record of increasing investment and employment in the state.”

Dr Goennemann says the NH90 NFH is the ideal project to continue the momentum of its investment in Queensland.

“The NH90 NFH is, without doubt, the most technically advanced anti-submarine, anti-surface ship combat helicopter in its class,” he adds. “It has world-leading performance which would take Australian naval aviation to a new level of operational capability. It also features 80% commonality with the MRH90 multi-role helicopter which Australian Aerospace is now delivering to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This will help the Federal Government achieve its aim of increasing effectiveness and efficiency by reducing the variety of helicopters in service with the ADF.”

The operational NH90 NFH, from the Italian Navy, has been brought to Australia from Europe for a series of demonstration flights for defence chiefs, government officials, business leaders and the public.

The NH90 NFH, produced by Australian Aerospace and NHIndustries, is the most modern and technically advanced naval helicopter in the world - it has a corrosion-resistant composite material airframe, fly-by-wire technology, the latest safety systems, a powerful weapons systems, as well as much greater capacity and flexibility than its competitor.

More than 110 NH90 NFH helicopters are now entering service with five navies.

About the NH90 NFH:
The NH90 NFH features 80% commonality with the Australian MRH90 version of the NH90 platform, with a custom-made mission system. The primary missions of the NH90 NFH are anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface ship warfare. The helicopter’s weapons system allows it to conduct maritime surveillance and utility operations, anti-submarine warfare with up to two torpedoes, anti-surface ship warfare with up to two anti-ship missiles, anti-surface warfare - detecting, tracking, classification, identification and attack on hostile vessels using over-the-horizon capability. It also can operate combined operations with one torpedo and one anti-ship missile. The NH90 NFH’s secondary ship-borne and land-based roles include vertical replenishment, search and rescue, troop transport and civil disaster relief operations. Six fully equipped combat troops can be carried, along with full anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface ship warfare equipment, which would allow NFH helicopters in RAN service to more efficiently conduct all missions now requiring a mix of Seahawks and the defunct Super Seasprites. Low risk and survivability are enhanced by a corrosion-immune, full-composite airframe, fully-redundant fly-by-wire controls to reduce crew workload, efficient emergency floatation gear, one-engine-out fly-away performance and stringent crashworthiness standards.

About Australian Aerospace
Australian Aerospace Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter - a part of the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Group (EADS). Created in 2003 through the merger of Eurocopter International Pacific Limited and Australian Aerospace Pty Ltd, the company has evolved into a major defence supplier to the Australian Government. With more than 1100 staff in Australia and New Zealand and access to the financial strength and expertise of Eurocopter and the EADS Group, the company is well positioned to manufacture and support civil and military helicopters in the Australia-Pacific region. In addition to its helicopter capabilities, Australian Aerospace has a long history of support for the RAAF AP-3C Orion reconnaissance and Caribou transport fleets and more recently C-130J Hercules transports. It also is involved in supporting the RAAF’s new Airbus A330-based Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

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