Eurocopter signs a nine year contract with the Australian government to maintain the RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft fleet

Eurocopter, through its Australian subsidiary, Australian Aerospace, and the Australian Government signed today a nine year contract worth $201 million for deeper maintenance of the RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft. The AP-3C fleet is based at RAAF Edinburgh and the work is carried out at RAAF Bases at Richmond and Edinburgh

Eurocopter, through its Australian subsidiary, Australian Aerospace, and the Australian Government signed today a nine year contract worth $201 million for deeper maintenance of the RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft. The AP-3C fleet is based at RAAF Edinburgh and the work is carried out at RAAF Bases at Richmond and Edinburgh

Australian Aerospace is a member of the Australian P3 Accord signed in November of 2005 that will provide Block Upgrade Programs and Through Life Support for the RAAF AP-3C fleet through to its planned withdrawal, currently 2015. The P3 Standard Support Contract signed today will further expand Australian Aerospace involvement and support of the Platform and involves a major investment for Australian Aerospace and Eurocopter in local capability and Australian skills. Australian Aerospace has been performing the Deep Maintenance of the RAAF AP-3C fleet since 1993.

AP-3C Orion aircraft are critical to Australia’s national and international maritime patrol reconnaissance and strike capability and play a significant role in Australian border protection and in operations in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

At present, there are around 140 Australians working on AP-3C Orion maintenance at RAAF Richmond (near Sydney) and RAAF Edinburgh (in Adelaide). This represents an increase of 50 people in the past 2 years and the new contract will result in a further 40 new skilled positions at RAAF Edinburgh and 10 new skilled positions at RAAF Richmond. The Accord and the new Contract has seen considerable growth of the Company activities in South Australia. The P3 Standard Support Contract establishes management arrangements to integrate and coordinate AP-3C maintenance with around $600 million of upgrades, creating the strong potential for further investment in skills and local Defence capability. There is a robust Australian Industry Capability Plan in this contract which further increases Australian Aerospace commitment to work with and develop Australian SME’s. Australian Aerospace have skills development programs to ensure continued availability of skills required to support Australian Defence Industry.

Eurocopter has been very active in Australia over the past years. It has become the number four Australian defence contractor (turnover), while Australia has become a major actor of Eurocopter’s global supply chain, through local companies. Major achievements for Eurocopter in Australia include contracts for 22 Tigers and 46 MRH-90, resulting in the implementation of two assembly lines (Tiger & MRH-90). Eurocopter supports more than 350 helicopters in the Asia Pacific region.

Created in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, one of the top three aerospace companies in the world. The group employs 13,500 people. Its strong worldwide presence is insured by its 16 subsidiaries located on the five continents, along with a network of distributors and certified agents. 9,500 Eurocopter helicopters are currently operating in 139 countries on behalf of some 2,500 customers. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military range in the world. The group now accounts for 30 % of the world market. In 2005, Eurocopter secured its position as the world’s No.1, with a turnover of 3.2 billion euros up by 15 % over the 2004 turnover – with orders for 401 new helicopters, once again leading the way in the civil and parapublic sectors with a 52% market share. For more information, please contact:

European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
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EADS Deutschland GmbH · 81663 Munich · Allemagne
EADS France S.A.S. · 37, boulevard de Montmorency · 75781 Paris Cedex 16 · France
EADS CASA · Ava. de Aragón, 404, 28022 Madrid · Espagne