Australia has decided that it will no longer operate the MRH90 helicopter till 2037 and has started talks with the United States to buy 40 Black Hawks to replace the troubled helicopter in Army service.
U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Matthew Mackintosh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Six of the MRH90 in service with the navy will be replaced by 12 MH-60R from Sikorsky. Australia has 41 MRH90s in service with the Army. These helicopters only achieve final operational capability (FOC) in April, 2019.
“Taipan has been a project of concern for the last decade, it’s had nine instances where it’s been unsuitable to fly,” Defence Minister Peter Dutton was quoted as saying.
Australia has been struggling to keep the fleet operational due to spare parts issues.
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