photo by Dave1185
19/09/11 By Greg Waldron SOURCE:Flight International
The Royal Australian Navy will lease three Bell 429 helicopters from Raytheon Australia to train the Navy's helicopter crew.
The RAN will receive the new helicopters in 2012, which will be used for four years, said Australian minister of defence materiel, Jason Clare. The contract is worth $26 million and includes support and maintenance.
Clare said the Bell 429s will likely fly around 1,500 hours per year.
"This is one way the navy is making sure that pilots and aircrew are ready for the new MH-60R helicopters that will start arriving in 2014," Clare said.
The new helicopters will be used to prepare the crew for new types that the navy is acquiring, namely the Lockheed Martin MH-60R and NH Industries MRH-90 helicopters.
In June, Australia announced it will acquire 24 MH-60Rs in a deal worth over A$3 billion ($3.1 billion).
Australia is obtaining 46 MRH90s to replace its army's Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks and the navy's Westland Sea Kings.
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