BLUF

The Australian Government has decided to replace all of the ADF's troubled Taipan helicopters with off-the-shelf, US manufactured Black Hawk and Sea Hawk helicopters.

Summary

Defence Minister Peter Dutton announced that the Australian Army will replace its  MRH-90 Taipan with  Sikorsky USA manufactured Blackhawks. This follows the Australian Government's decision to replace the RAN's  MRH-90 Taipan helicopters with US-made SeaHawk aircraft. This article makes the following points:

The Army currently has 41 Taipans in service, which operates out of Townsville and Oakey in Queensland, and are also flown by the 6th Aviation Regiment in Sydney.

The Taipan has been a 'project of concern' for the past decade.

Defence will scrap all 47 European-designed Taipans currently used by Army and Navy.

Australia will purchase up to 40 new off-the-shelf Blackhawk helicopters to replace the Taipans.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton says getting up to 40 new Blackhawks will send a clear message to Australia's partners and our adversaries that the Australian Defence Force is serious about defending Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision was made in the interest of Australia's national security. 

Replacing the Taipans is a clear signal the Australian Government considers defence capability 'a high priority'.

In October, the US revealed it had approved a $1.3 billion export to Australia of 12 Sikorsky-built Romeo Seahawk helicopters, to replace the RAN's Taipans. 

Learn more about Australia's decision to purchase US-built Blackhawk and Seahawk helicopters.

References

 

Dec 21 Strengthening Army's helicopter capability | Department of Defence Ministers

Oct 2021 ABC Australia to buy $1.3 billion fleet of US-made choppers as navy dumps troubled European-made MRH-90 Taipans

Dec 2021 Australian Aviation ADF To Abandon Mrh-90 Taipan Fleet

Dec 21 Defence looks to replace Taipan helicopter with US Black Hawks (themandarin.com.au)

Dec 21 Army to retire MRH 90 Taipans 10 years early & replace with Black Hawks | ADBR

Dec 21 Peter Dutton confirms Australia will ditch Taipan military helicopter fleet (9news.com.au)

Dec 21 Australia to scrap Taipan army helicopters | 7NEWS

Dec 21 RAN Seahawks grounded after emergency landing in Philippine Sea – Australian Aviation

Dec 21 Defence spends $37m on private helicopter hire after troubles with its own $15bn chopper program | Australian military | The Guardian

Dec 21 Army helicopters grounded due to safety issues, ADF insiders reveal | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

Dec 21 Defence grounds troubled MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet over safety concerns - ABC News

Dec 21 Why has Defence grounded its MRH 90s? - Australian Defence Magazine

Dec 21 ADF MRH 90 fleet grounded again | ADBR

Dec 21 Sikorsky Black Hawk | Army.gov.au