page_title: Future of the Royal Australian Navy
section_title: Fleet Air Arm
hierarchical_section_title: Future of the Royal Australian Navy / Fleet Air Arm
caption_attribution_description: English: A Royal Australian Navy MRH-90 on display at the 2011 Australian Defence Force Academy open day
context_page_description: The Royal Australian Navy, although a significant force in the Asia-Pacific region, is nonetheless classed as a medium-sized navy. Its fleet is based around two main types of surface combatant, with limited global deployment and air power capability. However, in 2009, a white paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was produced by the Australian government which set out a programme of defence spending that will see significant improvements to the RAN's fleet and capabilities.
context_section_description: The Fleet Air Arm is currently an all rotary winged organisation. Previously 16 S-70B-2 Seahawks helicopters were the combat helicopters of the Air Arm. The Seahawks were being upgraded with FLIR and enhanced ECM, to improve both their surveillance and self-defence capabilities. In the 2009 Defence White Paper the Australian Government stated that it will urgently acquire at least 24 new naval combat helicopters.
  The Navy's Sea Kings, which had been in service for twenty years, werebe replaced by MRH 90 helicopters modified for naval purposes by 2010. These aircraft were purchased as part a joint Army-Navy helicopter purchase. All 6 have been delivered.
  The 2009 Defence White Paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, stated that the RAN needed to replace its 16 Seahawk helicopters with at least 24 new helicopters by 2014. In June 2011 the Australian government announced the purchase of 24 MH-60R "Romeo" Seahawk helicopters as a replacement for the S-70-B2. All 24 have been delivered.
caption: One of the RAN's MRH-90s in 2011
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