SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Thursday, 25 February 2010
018/2010
New Naval Combat Helicopter
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the
Government has given first pass approval for a major project to provide the
Australian Defence Force with a new naval combat helicopter.
Project AIR 9000 Phase 8 is included in the Defence Capability Plan to provide naval
warships with a new combat helicopter.
Senator Faulkner said that two potential helicopters had been identified. “The
Government has decided that the new helicopter will be either the Sikorsky-Lockheed
Martin built MH-60R sourced through the United States Navy, or the NATO
Helicopter Industries NH90 NFH sourced through Australian Aerospace”.
Senator Faulkner said that a competition would be held between the two helicopter
options which would be cost-capped by the Defence Materiel Organisation through
the tender process.
“The new naval combat helicopter will enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s ability to
conduct a range of maritime operations. It will be capable of undertaking anti-
submarine warfare and will be equipped with air-to-surface missiles,”
Senator Faulkner said.
“This fleet of combat helicopters will form the centerpiece of naval combat aviation to
beyond 2040.
“The new helicopter will greatly extend the eyes and ears of our surface fleet and
allow the conduct of combat and support operations in the complex and demanding
maritime environment.
“They will replace the current fleet of Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters
and fill an operational need left by the cancellation of the Seasprite project,” Senator
Faulkner said.
The procurement of the new naval combat helicopters as a matter of urgency was
announced in the 2009 Defence White Paper. This decision demonstrates the
Government’s commitment to this important Defence capability.
Sufficient helicopters will be acquired to provide at least eight helicopters
concurrently embarked on ships at sea, which under the White Paper requires a fleet
of 24 helicopters.
“The competitive process would commence in the next few months with the
Government making a final decision about the new helicopter in 2011,” Senator
Faulkner said.
“This schedule will enable the new helicopters to be delivered from 2014.
“Any decision Government makes in 2011 will take into account all relevant
considerations including capability, cost, interoperability with other ADF capabilities,
Australian industry opportunities, risk and value for money,” Senator Faulkner said.
The Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, said that
the decision to progress the project via a competitive tender was consistent with the
Kinnaird and Mortimer procurement reforms.
The tender will allow the companies to offer innovative solutions that satisfy the
capability, cost and schedule requirements and detail what opportunities they will
offer local industry.
“A competitive process will ensure value for money for the tax payer and ensure the
project's acquisition strategy provides the Government with the best possible
information to support a decision for this vital capability,” Mr Combet said.
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7800 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
