Oakey’s Swartz Barracks is once again home to part of the Australian Army’s Black Hawk fleet.
Three of the proven combat utility helicopters have been permanently transferred to the Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey as part of a plan to establish the Army’s second second Black Hawk base.
The Army Aviation Training Centre will transfer flying training to Oakey from 2026 and progress to full training capacity from 2029.
Commander of the Australian Army’s Aviation Command, Major General David Hafner, said the continued introduction of the Black Hawk fleet would ensure the Defence Force was equipped to respond to domestic emergencies and future security challenges.
“The modernisation of Army’s aviation capabilities is providing our soldiers with the enhanced situational awareness, tactical speed, reach, and firepower required to protect Australia and our national interests,” Major General Hafner said.
“I want to thank the United States Army for their continued support in the delivery of the UH-60M Black Hawk to Australia, and our industry partners at Lockheed Martin Australia for aiding with the sustainment of this critical capability.”
The second operating node leverages existing defence industry capability with Lockheed Martin Australia and Sikorsky Australia supporting the UH-60M Black Hawk and Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk across South East Queensland and New South Wales.
Head of Joint Aviation Systems Division Major General Jeremy King said collaboration with defence industry was vital in equipping and sustaining our battlefield aviation capability.
“The expansion of the Black Hawk fleet will be supported by a highly skilled, embedded defence industry workforce, working side by side with our Army Aviation specialists to deliver and sustain this critical capability,” Major General King said.
Swartz Barracks will also see more than $9 million of essential infrastructure upgrades to support the expansion of the fleet, with construction to begin in the coming months.
By 2030, the Army plans to have 18 UH-60M Black Hawks based at Oakey, to be operated by the Army Aviation Training Centre and 5th Aviation Regiment.