As the Australian Army’s industry partner for integrated support services, Lockheed Martin Australia provides through-life sustainment for the UH-60M helicopters. Officials said the effort is focused on maintaining operational readiness as the fleet continues to grow.
Since achieving initial operating capability in 2024, the Australian Army’s UH-60M fleet has expanded to 19 aircraft and surpassed 5,000 flying hours. The milestone reflects sustained operational use and ongoing support from industry partners.
“I commend the Australian Army on consistently delivering a high rate of effort for its UH-60M Black Hawk program,” said Kendell Kuczma, program director and general manager of Rotary and Mission Systems. “Lockheed Martin Australia is proud to be an integral partner of the Black Hawk sustainment enterprise. Our priority is to provide dependable, rapid, and cost-effective sustainment support to the Australian Army to ensure the aircraft is ready when Army needs it.”
In Sydney, the company’s logisticians have processed more than 75,000 service transactions at the Black Hawk logistics warehouse to support operations. In Oakey, training specialists are working with the Army to qualify and upskill pilots and aviation crews as training demand increases alongside fleet expansion.
“We are proud to have delivered more than 200 jobs supporting industrial sustainment capability for the Black Hawk program. Our team on the ground derive a real sense of purpose from contributing to the integrated sustainment effort across all three sites,” said Rodahn Gibbon, Black Hawk program manager. “Further job growth is anticipated across the program. I encourage maintenance engineers, logisticians, and aviation specialists to visit our careers site to learn about the exciting careers available for Black Hawk helicopters.”
On a global level, Sikorsky is continuing efforts to modernize the Black Hawk platform for long-term use. The company is introducing technologies including autonomous systems, airframe enhancements, and a digital backbone to support rapid integration with unmanned aerial systems.
Officials said these advancements are intended to improve the capability of a modernized Black Hawk for the Indo-Pacific region and allied partners worldwide. The developments are part of broader efforts to ensure the aircraft remains operationally relevant into the coming decades.
