From Defence today...............

AIR 9000 PROGRAM – PRODUCTION COMMENCES FOR FIRST AUSTRALIAN MULTI ROLE HELICOPTER

The AIR 9000 Program achieved a significant milestone today with commencement of assembly of the first Australian MRH 90 (MRH005).

I was fortunate enough to initiate Australian MRH90 assembly at the Australian Aerospace facility in Brisbane.

This critical Defence Helicopter Project for Navy and Army will create more than 150 new jobs, mostly in the South East Queensland.

It also ensures the continuation of more than 250 jobs commenced under the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter project.

Australia’s first four MRH 90s are being manufactured in France and the remaining 42 helicopters will be assembled in Brisbane. MRH005 Fuselage was delivered ahead of schedule to the Australian Aerospace facility and this helicopter is expected to be ready for crew training in Townsville in December 2008.

I congratulate Australian Aerospace and the Air 9000 Project Team from the Defence Materiel Organisation on this achievement.

Our Army and Navy helicopters are heavily committed performing a critical role supporting our troops on operations and these helicopters are important to the Australian Defence Force of the future.

The MRH 90 program will deliver a significant boost to Australian industry with a package worth in excess of $1.2 billion, enhancing the work initiated under the Tiger project to transfer technologies to industry and the participation of local companies in the global supply chain.

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