Lockheed Martin Australia and the Australian Army have launched an apprenticeship and trainee program to build the workforce that will maintain the Army's UH-60M Black Hawk fleet.
Six aircraft maintenance engineer apprentices have started work on the Australian Army's UH-60M Black Hawk fleet under a new program run by Lockheed Martin Australia in partnership with the Army.
The company describes it as Australia's first apprenticeship and trainee program dedicated to Black Hawk sustainment. The Army is investing $1.3 million in the program.
The apprentices are embedded with the Army at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney's south-west, where they have begun a four-year course combining formal training with hands-on experience. They will learn to inspect, service, repair, test and troubleshoot aircraft systems and components while working alongside experienced aviation professionals.
"Introducing six new aircraft maintenance engineer apprentices into the Black Hawk program is an important investment," Lockheed Martin Australia Black Hawk Program Manager Rodahn Gibbon said.
"Over the next four years, they'll develop the expertise and knowledge required to support the Black Hawk fleet, while growing the depth of experience we need as the fleet matures."
The apprentices follow the program's first three logistics trainees, who started in June 2025 and have now finished their training. They completed a 12-month Certificate IV in Supply Chain Operations at Lockheed Martin Australia's Black Hawk logistics warehouse in Sydney, learning to inspect, track and manage regulated military aircraft components.
The Black Hawk program is modelled on Sikorsky Australia's Seahawk apprenticeship program, which took on six new apprentices this year. Sikorsky's early career program now employs 17 apprentices, about 20% of its technical workforce, and has produced 17 fully qualified aircraft technicians to date.
Sikorsky Australia General Manager Cliff Kyle said apprentices brought energy and fresh perspectives to the workforce.
"Building the workforce behind the aircraft is fundamental to sustaining 'Hawk' capability in Australia," he said. "We're now bringing that experience to the Black Hawk program, fostering a skilled workforce that will be critical to maintaining these fleets for decades to come."
Lockheed Martin Australia employs more than 1900 people nationally across aerospace, defence and civil programs.