BAE Systems and Tenix Hand Over First Modified Seahawk 1405 Helicopter

Released on Friday, June 22, 2007

Nowra, Australia. � The first modified 1405 Seahawk helicopter was handed over to the Commonwealth last month by BAE Systems and Tenix. The handover, held at HMAS Albatross, Nowra marked the successful delivery of Seahawk helicopter N24-013, the first aircraft to complete the integrated Seahawk 1405 / Deeper Maintenance Integration Program which was formed by Tenix Defence Aerospace Division and BAE Systems Deeper Maintenance in September 2006. The guest of honour at the event was Captain Mark Jarrett - director Navy Aviation Projects Office.

Jim McDowell, chief executive for BAE Systems Australia said: "This joint team will bring real benefits to the Commonwealth as it enables us to maximize synergies between modification and deeper maintenance activities and provide the Navy with increased aircraft capability."

The first trial Seahawk was accepted by the Commonwealth on 18 April 2007 and, since the commencement of the trial, four other Seahawks have been inducted into the program and are currently on schedule.

Jim McDowell added: "BAE Systems and Tenix Defence Aerospace Division are strongly committed to establishing an extensive industry capability network that will support the Seahawk weapon system and have teamed to bid for the proposed Seahawk through-life support contract."