Thomas Global Systems has been awarded a multi-year supply contract by Boeing to design and manufacture cockpit avionics for the global fleet of AH-64E Apache helicopters. The company has existing avionics supply contracts with major commercial airlines including Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines and SkyWest Airlines and military operators including the Royal New Zealand Air Force and US special mission platforms. Thomas Global Systems is expanding its Western Sydney advanced manufacturing operations to deliver this program and other high integrity electronic systems including Immersive Tactical and Gunnery Training simulators for armoured fighting vehicles such as the M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank being acquired by the Australian Army under Land 907 Phase 2.
“We are honoured to be working with Boeing, and our team is looking forward to the opportunity to design and manufacture latest generation, forward-fit avionics equipment for the Australian and international Apache fleets. This contract is an important vote of confidence in our company’s avionics engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities. The award demonstrates that we are globally competitive and are trusted to deliver critical flight deck technology into major US military programs,” Thomas Global Systems CEO, Angus Hutchinson said.
In July 2019, Australia issued a request for information for Project Land 4503 to replace the Army’s Eurocopter Tiger ARH helicopters. On 15 January 2021, the Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds announced that the AH-64E had been selected to replace the Airbus Helicopters Tiger fleet under the Land 4503 program estimated to be worth AU$4-5 billion (U.S. $3–3.8 billion). The two operational Tiger squadrons are currently based in Darwin in the Northern Territory as part of the 1st Aviation Regiment. A fleet of 29 AH-64Es will be acquired with a planned initial operational capability of 12 helicopters in 2026 and full operational capability in 2028.
Thomas Global Systems designs, manufactures, and supports highly engineered and reliable electronic systems solutions for commercial aviation, defence and other high-integrity transportation applications. For more than 65 years, Thomas Global has thrived by providing customers with trusted, innovative, and best value products and services. The company focuses on avionics, armoured vehicle electronics, and specialised mission-critical electronics and training systems. Thomas Global operates high technology R&D, advanced manufacturing, and support facilities in Sydney, Australia and Irvine, California.
