David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 22 March 2011:

(1) When will the final decision be made to 'introduce 46 new MRH-90 helicopters as a pooled fleet shared between the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army to replace the Navy's Sea Kings and Army's general troop lift Blackhawk fleets' (Defence White Paper 2009, p. 72, paragraph 9.17).

(2) When will the first of these helicopters be delivered and fully operational.

(3) What type or variant of the MRH-90 has been recommended for purchase.

(4) What will be the expected purchase price of the 46 new MRH-90 helicopters.

(5) What will be the total cost of through-life support and operating costs of the MRH-90 over a 30 year operating life.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Government granted Second Pass Approval in August 2004 for the purchase of 12 Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH90) under AIR 9000 Phase 2, and in April 2006 for the purchase of an additional 34 MRH90 under Air 9000 Phases 4 and 6. The contract for Phase 2 was signed in June 2005 while Phases 4 and 6 contracts were signed in June 2006.

These helicopters will be nominally split with 40 allocated to Army and six to Navy. The support systems will include an electronic warfare self protection support system; a ground mission management system; a software support centre; an instrumented system, with telemetry capable of being installed into three instrument-capable aircraft; two full flight and mission simulators; and facilities infrastructure at Townsville, Oakey, Brisbane and Nowra.

(2) The first two MRH90 aircraft were accepted in December 2007 and the first Australian assembled MRH90 aircraft was accepted in December 2008. As at 23 March 2011, 13 aircraft have been delivered and accepted. The final fully operational aircraft is contracted and scheduled for delivery in June 2014.

(3) The MRH90 is the Australian variant of the Troop Transport Helicopter (TTH) version of the NH Industry (NHI) NH90 helicopter.

(4) As outlined in the 2010-11 Portfolio Budget Statements, the total approved Air 9000 Phases 2, 4 and 6 project expenditure is $3.755 billion.

(5) Until a capability matures it is always difficult to quantify platform sustainment costs over a 30 year operating life. However, current estimates indicate that through-life support and operating costs may be around $4.7 billion (December 2010 constant dollars).