Black Hawks To Replace Problematic Taipan Helos

The Australian government has announced that it will buy a new fleet of utility helicopters for the army, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

On Wednesday, Canberra said it would acquire 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for Aus$2.8 billion (US$1.9 billion) to replace the army's problematic MRH90 Taipan aircraft.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Australia’s request for the sale of the Black Hawks in August 2022.

Defense Minister Richard Marles said that the army had not gotten the needed flight hours out of its Taipans due to maintenance issues and obtaining spare parts.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2023. The Black Hawks are slated to fly out of Oakey in Queensland and Holsworthy in New South Wales.