Australia to Buy U.S. Helicopters, Declares Existing Aircraft Unfit for Purpose
Purchase of 40 Black Hawks deepens defense cooperation as allies seek to counter China’s influence
SYDNEY—When Australia’s military acquired a fleet of European-made helicopters to fly troops into combat, it planned to operate the aircraft for decades.
But there was a problem: The door wasn’t wide enough to allow its self-defense gun to fire while special-operations forces were rappelling to the ground. A new gun mount was designed that could be stowed quickly, but the weapon still couldn’t be fired while troops exited the aircraft. Military commanders said two helicopters might be needed for some missions so one could provide cover while soldiers disembarked from the other.
Those issues have led Australian officials to ditch the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter altogether around 15 years after taking delivery of the first aircraft. In its place, Australia is proceeding with the purchase of 40 U.S.-made UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. Black Hawks avoid the gun issue by firing through a separate window, according to a parliamentary research report.
“The Black Hawk is a reliable, proven and mature platform supported by a robust global supply chain,” said Maj. Gen. Jeremy King, an official at Australia’s defense department. “This acquisition will mean we can continue to defend Australia and respond in times of need in a safe and effective way.”
The sale is the latest step by the U.S. and Australia to deepen defense cooperation as both nations seek to counter growing Chinese influence. U.S. Marines train in strategic northern Australia, which could be used as a staging ground for military forces in the event of a conflict with China, and the U.S. is working with the U.K. to help Australia develop a nuclear-powered submarine capability.
Australian officials flagged in late 2021 that they were exploring the purchase of new Black Hawk helicopters for its army to replace the Taipans, which were designed and built by NHIndustries, a consortium including Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Fokker. U.S. officials approved the $1.95 billion sale in August, and Australia said Wednesday it would move forward with the deal. Black Hawks are made by Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Sikorsky arm.
Airbus said it acknowledged Australia’s decision and that it is committed to providing support for the existing Taipan fleet for as long as it remains in service.
The Taipan helicopters are based on the NH90, which was designed to meet requirements for NATO nations for a multirole aircraft and is operated by many European militaries. Other countries, though, have also reported issues. In June, Norway terminated its contract for the helicopters, saying that more than 20 years after signing the deal it still didn’t have helicopters capable of performing its target missions. It said it expected 14 helicopters by the end of 2008, but that only eight had been delivered in a fully operational configuration, and that flight hours for the fleet were much less than required.
“No matter how many hours our technicians work, and how many parts we order, it will never make the NH90 capable of meeting the requirements of the Norwegian Armed Forces,” Norway’s Defense Ministry said at the time.
In response, NHIndustries said it was disappointed with Norway’s decision and refuted the allegations, adding that it wasn’t offered the possibility to discuss a proposal to improve aircraft availability and address Norway’s specific requirements.
Australia’s shift away from the Taipans had the potential to reopen a diplomatic rift with France, where Airbus has its main office, following a dispute in 2021 when Australia’s previous government scrapped a submarine deal with the French in favor of the U.S. arrangement. But Richard Marles, Australia’s defense minister, said Wednesday he has been talking with his French counterpart about the Taipans and that the decision shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“The most important thing here is dealing with the French in an honest way,” he said, noting that French companies still play a big role in Australia’s defense industry. “We’re confident that this won’t interrupt the relationship—the renewed relationship with France.”
The French Embassy in Canberra, Australia’s capital, didn’t immediately comment.
Australia has spent about $2.5 billion on 47 Taipan helicopters for its army and navy, but the program has been plagued by problems for more than a decade, according to the parliamentary report. Aside from the gun issue, other problems included engine failure, poor availability of spare parts and issues with a cargo hook, the report said. Some components had to be removed from the aircraft and returned to Europe for inspection and repair, defense officials previously said.
The Taipan helicopter was also expensive to fly. It cost more to operate than combat aircraft with sophisticated weapons and sensor systems, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a government-backed think tank. The institute said that it continually missed flying-hour targets.
Continuing delays with the Taipans meant that Australia had to extend the life of some older Black Hawks, which initially had been expected to be retired by the end of 2013, according to the parliamentary report. Military officials had warned that further delays with the Taipans would be problematic as the old Black Hawks couldn’t be used beyond the end of 2022, the report said.
Mr. Marles said he is confident Australia can get what it needs out of the new Black Hawks, noting that the military is already familiar with the platform. The Black Hawks, which could also be used to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, will start arriving later this year.
“We’ve been struggling with the Taipans for many years now in terms of maintenance issues, getting spare parts,” Mr. Marles said. “We’ve just not got the flying hours out of the Taipan that we would need.”