Turbomeca signs support contract with Boeing Defence Australia

Turbomeca Australasia (Safran) signed a contract with Boeing Defence Australia to support a new training system for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopters. Turbomeca will provide to Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army with a Support By The Hour (SBH) contract for a new fleet of 15 Arrius 2B2-powered EC135 T2 helicopters. These helicopters will be based in HMAS Albatross Nowra, New South Wales, home of the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. The Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) will train Australian crews for the new generation of advanced combat helicopters such as ARH Tiger, CH-47F Chinook and MRH-90. HATS is the seventh stage (Phase 7) of an Australian Defence Force acquisition program called JP 9000. Through the JP9000 acquisition program, Australia will acquire a large fleet of multi-role Helicopters.The HATS program will expand the training capability and provide rotary wing training outcomes for the Australian Army and Navy.