Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Royal Australian Navy has signed a new contract with Raytheon Australia to provide three Bell 429 helicopters aimed to maintain and develop the skills of junior Naval helicopter aircrew.

The contract is worth around $26 million over four years and includes support and maintenance.

Mr Clare said that the helicopters would be operated by Navy’s 723 Squadron in Nowra.

“This is one way the Navy is making sure that pilots and aircrew are ready for the new Romeo combat helicopters which will start arriving in 2014,” Mr Clare said.

“Junior aircrew initially train in Squirrel helicopters. They will then move on to the Bell 429 to improve and maintain their skills.

“This gives young Naval pilots and aircrew the chance to hone their skills before they start flying the new combat helicopters, the MH-60R Seahawks or the new MRH-90 helicopters.”

The lease of these helicopters is necessary to assist in the skills development of Naval aircrew following the cancellation of the failed Seasprite project.

These new helicopters will operate for four years from 2012 and are expected to fly around 1500 hours per year.

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and then we later added the following text from Raytheon Australia’s press release

Canberra – 19 September 2011: The Royal Australian Navy’s Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI) moves into a new phase today with the award of a new contract to Raytheon Australia.

The Retention and Motivation Initiative provides the Navy with supported aircraft to allow junior qualified aircrew to consolidate and enhance their skills prior to flying operational helicopters. Speaking upon the announcement that the company has been awarded a new RMI contract for a four
year period, the Managing Director of Raytheon Australia, Mr Michael Ward, expressed his gratitude that the Navy has again entrusted Raytheon Australia to help them achieve their required flying outcomes.

“We have forged a trusted partnership with our Navy customer in the execution of our contract over the past four years and we look forward to maintaining our strong relationship,” Mr Ward said.

Under the new contract, Raytheon Australia will provide the Navy with three new Bell 429 helicopters for tasking for 1,500 hours per annum. The new Bell helicopters will replace the current three A109E aircraft provided by Raytheon Australia under the existing RMI contract.

Mr Ward said “We are very excited to be able to offer a new RMI solution that incorporates the latest generation of light twin helicopters. The Bell 429 was selected after an extensive trade study and we are confident it is the right helicopter.”

The award adds to Raytheon Australia’s pedigree with the RAN in rotary wing flight operations. In addition to the RMI contract, Raytheon Australia provides turnkey support to the Navy’s 13 AS350 ‘Squirrel’ helicopters. Together, these programs provide the Navy with 16 helicopters and 5,500
available flight hours per annum.

Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military vertical lift aircraft. Globally recognised for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell Helicopter has supported the ADF for over 50 years, through the sale and support of the Bell 47 Sioux,