HATS in the ring

Industry and Defence sources say the oft-delayed draft RFT for Phase 7 will now likely be issued in the April-May timeframe, with the formal RFT to follow late in the third quarter of this year. It is also understood that the contract would be a direct acquisition by the Commonwealth as opposed to the option of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

Bae Systems/ Agustawestland/cae

BAE Systems Australia has teamed with AgustaWestland and CAE for Phase 7, and will base its offering around a yet to be determined variant of the AW109 light twin.

The teaming will combine BAE’s large domestic rotary wing support base and its experience in operating the BFTS at Tamworth with CAE’s experience in supplying and operating synthetic training devices.

The team is yet to decide which variant of the AW109 it will offer, with Giuseppe Orsi, CEO of AgustaWestland, telling media at the teaming launch that it would depend on the requirements issued by the Phase 7 project documents.

Four AW109 Powers are already in Navy service through the Raytheon Australia operated Retention & Motivation Initiative (RMI) at Nowra. Across the Tasman, five AW109LUHs are on order for the RNZAF for aircrew training, with service entry expected later this year.

Lockheed Martin/ Bristow Helicopters

Perhaps a surprise teaming was that of Lockheed Martin with Bristow Helicopters.

The team is yet to announce its preferred helicopter platform for its bid – instead it says it will wait until a more defined list of requirements has been issued before it makes a platform selection, saying only that it has a “short list” of helicopters in mind. But through its worldwide resources and programs, Bristow says it has vast experi-ence in buying and operating helicopters, which means it has the knowledge and buying power to make the right decision when appropriate.

Bristow may not currently have a military presence in country, but it is a major player in being Australia’s lead provider in the offshore helicopter industry.

It also operates its own ‘Bristow Academy’ helicopter flight training school with three campuses in the US, while in the UK is a joint venture partner with FR Aviation Group in operating the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS), which trains British Army, RAF and RN helicopter aircrews.

Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, currently operates the UK’s fixed wing Military Flying Training Scheme, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s basic Wings Course, and provides training services to many US service branches and other services worldwide.

Boeing/thales

Boeing Australia and Thales Australia also announced their teaming arrangement to bid for Phase 7, with an agreement being signed at Avalon by Boeing Australia vice president and managing director John Duddy and Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins to formalise their MoU.

Boeing provides helicopter pilot, aircrew and technician training for the Australian Army under the Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract. The company trains aircrew on Black Hawks and Kiowas at Oakey, and on Chinooks at Townsville.

Thales operated the F-111C simulator and training programs under contract to Boeing, and the two companies also partner in providing simulator support for the Wedgetail AEW&C Operational Flight Trainer and C-17 aircrew training simulators.

The team is also yet to announce which helicopter platform it will offer for its bid, but will hold an open tender for manufacturers in the coming months.

Raytheon/bell

Meanwhile, Raytheon Australia and Bell Helicopter announced last August that they would offer the Bell 429 for Phase 7.

The 429 (airtested in the October 2010 issue of AA) is a new medium twin engined helicopter with a large cargo area and rear hatch doors under the boom, giving it a secondary light utility capability.

Raytheon Australia has said it will draw upon its systems engineering expertise and its experience in the operation of four AW109 Powers for the RAN’s Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI), in providing maintenance and engineering support under its Squirrel in-service support contract for the RAN, and in supporting RAAF Hornet and Super Hornet training systems in partnership with Milskil.

And Australian Aerospace?

Yet to announce its position on Phase 7 is local Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace. CEO Jens Goennemann told media at Avalon that the company was yet to decide whether it would bid alone, likely with the EC135 (or with its EC635 militarised variant), or if it would team with a partner as a platform and as a possible in-service support provider.

Australian Aerospace is already delivering ARH Tiger and MRH helicopters to the Australian Army and Navy, and has bid its NH90 NFH for the Phase 8 program to replace Navy’s Seahawk helicopters.

Goennemann said at Avalon that the EC135 has systems commonality with both the ARH and MRH, and would make an ideal training platform for these aircraft. Unlike the MRH and ARH, however, Australian Aerospace has said it wouldn’t assemble the EC135/635 in Australia, should it be selected.

The company also supports the RAAF’s AP-3C and C-130J fleets through the provision of deeper maintenance services at RAAF Base Richmond.

The EC135/635 is in military service with a number of nations, most significantly Germany’s School of Army Aviation at Bückeburg.