An Australian Army Taipan helicopter made a dramatic emergency landing into the sea at Jervis Bay on Wednesday night during a counterterrorism exercise. All ten personnel on board, including special forces soldiers, escaped with no serious injuries. Eyewitnesses reported seeing sparks at the top of the rotor blades and an explosion before the Airbus-manufactured helicopter came down just after 9 pm. The incident has prompted a renewed focus on Australia’s troubled history with its European designed MRH-90 fleet.
Before the emergency landing, the Taipan fleet had been grounded several times over safety concerns, and in 2019 the MRH-90 remained on Defense’s Project of Concerns list. Australia’s fleet of 47 Taipans were first acquired by the Howard government in 2006 but have suffered from poor availability since entering service. In 2021, the Morrison government announced it would retire the entire fleet of MRH-90s a decade earlier than scheduled, replacing them with up to 40 new Black Hawks and 12 Seahawks, a move confirmed by the Albanese government in January.
The Defense Flight Safety Bureau has begun a formal investigation into the cause of the crash landing, and a damaged rotor blade visible while the helicopter was stranded on the beach is expected to be a focus for investigators and engineers. Defense says it “cannot comment” because of the “ongoing investigation.” Despite the MRH-90 having numerous features that make it superior to the Black Hawk, including flotation devices, critics claim Australia has failed to properly maintain and manage the complex fleet effectively.
Last year, Chief of Army General Simon Stuart told a Senate Estimates committee that the cost of operating the Taipan fleet was $48,000 for every flying hour. Defense insiders have acknowledged the more expensive Taipan helicopter has been plagued by maintenance and availability issues, but supporters of the MRH-90 argue that the helicopter is superior to the Black Hawk in many ways. However, even European militaries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden are beginning to phase out their MRH-90 fleets in favor of American helicopters.
While critics have claimed the Australian Defense Force is becoming too US-focused with military acquisitions, General Stuart said it makes sense for the army to deal with its long-standing ally. “The US is our key partner, we have an alliance relationship, and our interoperability, particularly with our teammates in Army’s case in U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Marine Forces in the Pacific, and our teammates in INDOPACOM, is really important,” he said.
The MRH-90’s troubled history and the emergency landing of the Taipan helicopter have brought the issue of Australia’s aging fleet to the forefront. The Defense Force’s decision to retire the MRH-90s earlier than scheduled and replace them with American-made Black Hawks and Seahawks has been met with both support and criticism. The investigation into the cause of the crash landing will provide insights into the challenges of maintaining and operating complex military equipment, and the Defense Force’s decision to switch to American-made helicopters will have implications for Australia’s defense capabilities and its relationship with the U.S.
For more information, hit the Source below