ARH Tiger helicopter support contract signed by Australian Aerospace, MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce GmbH and Turbomeca Australasia

Three leading defence and aerospace companies, Australian Aerospace, MTR (a joint venture company of MTU Aero Engines, Turbomeca, Rolls-Royce) and Turbomeca Australasia, have signed an important agreement to provide Through Life Support (TLS) for the Australian Army's new fleet of Tiger (ARH) Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters.

Under the contract, MTR will provide technical, logistics and supply support services for the MTR390-2C engine installed on the Tiger helicopters, while Turbomeca Australasia will be the in-country repair centre, providing deeper maintenance services for the engine from its facility in Bankstown, Sydney. The contract will run for 11 years and is one of several key subcontracts to be awarded by Australian Aerospace, the prime contractor for the Tiger program, in the establishment of a comprehensive TLS arrangement for the active ARH Tiger fleet in Australia.

Australian Aerospace Chief Executive, Jens Goennemann said: "This is the latest of a number of important milestones in the history of the Australian ARH program, and the nation's leading defence and aerospace companies continue to pool our expertise to bring this sophisticated new weapons platform to maturity within the Defence Force".

The ARH Tiger training fleet is now operational at the Australian Army Aviation Training Centre, Oakey, Queensland, and a further three ARH Tigers recently deployed to Darwin as the nucleus of two new squadrons - 161 Sqn and 162 Sqn - of the Army's 1 Aviation Regiment based at Robertson Barracks in Darwin. A single ARH Tiger is also deployed to the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) at Edinburgh Air Force base in Adelaide. A total of 12 ARH Tigers are currently in service.

The contracted services agreed to have the potential to increase, depending on the placement of orders for repairs and the provision of spare parts and services over the 11 year term of the agreement. During the signature ceremony, MTR and Turbomeca Australasia Managing Directors, Clemens Linden and Lilian Brayle, expressed their great satisfaction to be able to bring comprehensive support to the ARH fleet, combining engineering support from three major European engine companies, while offering Deeper Maintenance facilities within Australia.

About Australian Aerospace

Australian Aerospace Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter which is, in turn, 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 and a leader in the Asia-Pacific civil helicopter market. With financial strength and access to the expertise of Eurocopter and the EADS Group, the company is well placed to offer outstanding solutions to military and civil customer requirements. Some 860 staff at its facilities in Sydney, Richmond, Brisbane, Redcliffe, Oakey, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland are engaged in testing, supplying, maintaining, modifying and enhancing civil and military helicopters for the Australian and export markets, and support some 350 helicopters in the region. In addition to its helicopter businesses, Australian Aerospace Limited has a long history of support for the RAAF AP3C Orion reconnaissance and Caribou transport fleets and will be involved in supporting the RAAF's new Airbus A330-based Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

About MTR

MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce GmbH (MTR) was founded in Munich in June 1989 as a joint venture between the companies indicated in its name. As programme organizer, it is responsible for the development, production and maintenance of the Tiger's MTR390-2C engines. It is the contract partner to the European Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and the Export Customers.

About Turbomeca Australasia

Turbomeca Australia is 13 years old and serves as a major repair center for Arriel 1 series engines and a TurboSupport Center for the Arrius, Arriel and Makila engines. In addition Turbomeca Australia has assembled and test the new MTR390-2C for the tigers and the RTM322 for the NH 90. It has over 100 employees who provide support to more than 150 operators and 400 engines distributed throughout Australia, New-Zealand and all the surrounding islands. Turbomeca (SAFRAN Group) is the leading helicopter engine manufacturer, and has produced over 50 000 turbines based on its own designs since the company was founded. With 2,350 customers in over 155 countries, Turbomeca provides a proximity service thanks to its 15 sites, 2 subsidiaries, 26 TurboSupport Centers, 24 repair centers and 90 Field representatives and Field technicians. The Head Office is based in Bordes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques (south-west France).