SYDNEY -- CAE today announced it has been awarded a contract valued at approximately AUD$180 million (C$160 million) by the Commonwealth of Australia to provide MRH90 helicopter training systems and services.
As the prime contractor, CAE will have overall responsibility for providing two MRH90 full-flight and mission simulators (FFMSs), training facilities, and comprehensive engineering and support services.
The MRH90 FFMSs will be delivered in 2012 to new training facilities being constructed at the Australian Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey as well as the Australian Army's 5th Aviation Regiment located at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Townsville. Following delivery of the MRH90 FFMSs, CAE will provide comprehensive support services for two years under CAE's existing Management and Support of Australian Defence Forces Aerospace Simulators (MSAAS) contract. As prime contractor and Authorised Engineering Organisation (AEO) for the Commonwealth, CAE will provide overall project management, systems engineering and integrated logistics support. CAE will subcontract the FFMS design and manufacturing work to Helicopter Training Media International (HTMI), a CAE and Thales joint venture. CAE will also subcontract work to Thales Australia, who will manage the build and delivery of the training facilities as well as provide service and support under the MSAAS contract.
"We expect the new MRH90 helicopters to bring increased operational capability to the Australian Defence Forces, and well-trained mission-ready aircrews are paramount to delivering this capability," says Major General Tony Fraser, head of the Helicopter Systems Division for the Australian Defence Forces (ADF). "CAE has a proven, established track record of supporting ADF aerospace simulators and we are pleased to continue the relationship with CAE on the MRH90 program."
As part of the MSAAS contract, which was awarded in 2003, CAE currently provides support for the ADF's C-130J, C-130H, B707, S-70A Black Hawk, and S-70B Seahawk simulators. Through the MSAAS contract, CAE has established a world class support services capability in Australia and has been certified by the ADF as an AEO. CAE is also currently designing and manufacturing the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) FFMS for the RAAF.
"This is a key win for CAE in Australia and we are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with the ADF as their provider of high-fidelity full-mission flight simulators and training services," says Alan Johnson, managing director of CAE Australia. "CAE's role on the German NH90 training program and now the Australian MRH90 program positions the company well for opportunities as other countries begin to assess their training requirements for the NH90."
The MRH90 (multi-role helicopter) is the designated Australian variant of the NH90 tactical transport helicopter (TTH). The Commonwealth of Australia has 46 MRH90 helicopters on order. The two MRH90 FFMSs will be accredited to Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority Level 5, which is equivalent to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Level D, the highest qualification for flight simulators.
For more information visit www.cae.com.
