Brisbane Delivers
Australia will invest $25 million in an expansion of the
Australian Aerospace helicopter production facility in Brisbane
that is currently producing the new 'Tiger' Armed Reconnaissance
Helicopter.
Defense Minister Robert Hill made the announcement Monday
coinciding with the delivery and acceptance of the first
Australian-made Tiger Helicopter by the Australian Defense Force
giving a major boost to Army's capability.
Australian Aerospace has successfully delivered the first of the
new generation Tiger Helicopters on time and on budget, and the $25
million expansion of the Brisbane facility will allow the ADF's new
MRH 90 Troop Lift Helicopter to also be produced at the Brisbane
facility.
Senator Hill said the expansion will also open up opportunities
for the production of variants of the NH 90 Helicopter for other
regional nations, such as the production of New Zealand's version
of the NH 90.
"Defense will this week hold talks with the New Zealand
Government to explore opportunities for cooperation on the MRH 90
program, and will strongly encourage New Zealand to use the
Brisbane facility to build its troop lift helicopters," said
Senator Hill.
"Securing the New Zealand contract would provide mutual benefits
to Australia and New Zealand, particularly in relation to through
life support."
Australian Aerospace is a subsidiary of Eurocopter and today's
acceptance of the Tiger Helicopter is another example of Defense
and Australian industry working together to provide new
capabilities for the ADF.
"The new Tiger is the most advanced helicopter of its type in
the world and will add significant firepower, protection and
mobility to the Australian Army providing a capability that Defense
has never had before," said Senator Hill.
"Its sensors, data links and state of the art communications
provide Army with a significant increase in technology and
capability.
"The Tiger's flexibility, ability to deploy at short notice and
to operate in diverse circumstances represents an evolution in the
Army's operational versatility."
The heavily armed Tiger is fitted with Hellfire missiles, 70 mm
rockets and a 30 mm cannon and will significantly enhance the
reconnaissance and firepower capabilities of Army's combined arms
team, which will soon include the MRH 90 Troop Lift Helicopters and
the Abrams Main Battle Tank.
"The Army will now be able to conduct tactical reconnaissance
and provide armed escort for troop lift helicopters on air mobile
operations," said Senator Hill.
The Army will receive 22 Tiger ARH aircraft, flight and
maintenance simulators and through-life support as part of the $1.3
billion project. The first four aircraft were manufactured in
France, with the first two delivered in December 2004. The
remaining 18 are being built in Brisbane and will be in operation
by 2009.
The Australian industry involvement for the Tiger helicopter
project is worth approximately $640 million over the life of the
aircraft.
Delivery of this helicopter is a significant step for the
aerospace industry in Australia that will continue to develop with
the assembly of the MRH 90 troop lift helicopters at the Brisbane
facility.
The new MRH 90 aircraft will increase Army's troop lift
capability by more than half and give the Army the ability to move
more soldiers further and faster from our amphibious lift
ships.
The multi-role helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art
technology, larger cabin capacity, full fly-by-wire flight control
system and digital cockpit.
The first MRH 90 helicopter will be delivered in 2007, with all
12 aircraft expected to be delivered by 2010.