The Australian Military’ s first pair of AH-64E Apache helicopters have arrived in Queensland at RAAF Base Townsville.
Acquired via overseas navy gross sales with the US, the Apaches are anticipated to supply important aviation results, together with reconnaissance, communications and networking, firepower and offensive help.
As well as, the helicopters are a key component of Military’s transformation right into a power optimised for littoral manoeuvre and long-range strike.
“The AH-64E Apache gives a important step change in assault aviation functionality for the Australian Military and builds on the Albanese authorities’s investments to enhance the Australian Defence Power’s capability to function from Australia’s northern bases,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated.
“The Apache is probably the most superior assault helicopter working at this time and the Albanese authorities is happy to welcome the primary two helicopters to Townsville.
“Our funding in North Queensland to help the Apache fleet is not going to solely present important coaching and employment alternatives via a ‘prepare native to remain native’ method however will make Townsville Australia’s largest defence helicopter business hub – supporting native jobs.”
All 29 Apache plane are anticipated to be delivered by 2029. Boeing Defence Australia will present help to the brand new fleet of Apaches beneath a seven‑12 months contract value $306 million.
The contract will ship upkeep, engineering, coaching and logistics providers, and is predicted to supply greater than 240 business jobs throughout Queensland, together with 170 jobs in Townsville.
Further coaching and employment alternatives are anticipated to be created via the institution of the Townsville Aviation Coaching Academy, which is able to ship technical programs to coach new business upkeep personnel for the AH-64E Apache and CH-47F Chinook helicopter fleets.
“These new assault helicopters are important to modernising the ADF and reworking the Military right into a power optimised for littoral manoeuvre and long-range strike,” Minister for Defence Trade Pat Conroy stated.
“The supply of this key functionality additionally demonstrates the federal government’s dedication to supporting Australian business as we work to provide the ADF the capabilities it must preserve Australians secure.
“That is additionally nice information for the Townsville area with the contract with Boeing Defence Australia, together with important upgrades to RAAF Base Townsville, to create a whole bunch of jobs for North Queenslanders and inject a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} into the native economic system.”
The federal authorities can also be investing $700 million to supply important infrastructure upgrades and services works at RAAF Base Townsville to help the introduction of the Apache fleet, and the relocation of the first Aviation Regiment and sixteenth Aviation Brigade Headquarters. The development section of this undertaking is predicted to create 275 jobs within the Townsville area.
To help the AH-64E’s introduction into service, Australian Military personnel have been enterprise coaching in the US and the UK, with plenty of air and floor crew already certified on the Apache.
