An Albury-based aerospace company is expanding its role in Australia’s defence industry after Australian Aerospace Engineering entered a new partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia to support the Australian Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter fleet.

Australian Aerospace Engineering, also known as AAE, will provide specialist maintenance, repair and overhaul services under a new standing agreement being progressed with Lockheed Martin Australia.

The partnership builds on AAE’s existing relationship with the aerospace industry. The Albury company already supplies aerospace spare parts and material support for Sikorsky Australia’s sustainment operations at Nowra in New South Wales.

Under the expanded arrangement, AAE will move further into Black Hawk component sustainment, supporting the helicopters that form an important part of the Australian Army’s aviation capability.

The work will be carried out from AAE’s new purpose-built maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Albury. The facility covers approximately 1,900 square metres and represents a significant investment in the company’s local operations.

The expansion is expected to strengthen Albury’s growing aerospace and advanced-manufacturing sector. It could also create opportunities for skilled workers and businesses supporting the local aviation industry.

The development highlights the increasing role regional Australian cities can play in national defence supply chains. Rather than concentrating specialist aerospace work in major metropolitan centres, companies such as AAE are building capabilities in regional locations.

For Albury, the new defence work provides an opportunity to further develop its reputation as a centre for aviation and engineering expertise. The new facility gives AAE additional capacity to handle complex maintenance and component-support requirements for defence and commercial customers.

The partnership also demonstrates the broader economic benefits that can come from defence-related investment. Aerospace operations require highly skilled technicians, engineers and support staff, creating demand for specialised employment and training.

AAE’s expanded Black Hawk role comes as Australia continues to invest in modernising and supporting its military aviation capabilities. The UH-60M Black Hawk fleet is being supported through a broader integrated sustainment arrangement involving Lockheed Martin Australia and the Australian Army.

The Albury company’s participation means local workers and facilities will contribute directly to that national defence capability.

The development represents a significant milestone for AAE and adds another major defence-related activity to Albury’s growing aerospace sector.