CANBERRA, Australia – The Australian navy will now not fly its fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters after a July crash that killed 4 troopers, the Australian Protection Minister stated Friday.
The Australian fleet of greater than 40 European-designed Taipans has been grounded since July 28 when one crashed within the Pacific Ocean throughout an evening coaching operation within the Whitsunday Islands off the north-eastern coast of Australia.
Protection Minister Richard Marles advised 9 Community TV that ending Taipan air operations completely was “the one logical resolution”.
“We’re making this resolution right this moment. It was inevitable in some ways, nevertheless it is a vital step to take in order that we are able to get our Black Hawks within the air as rapidly as attainable,” Marles stated, referring to the American-made helicopters that can substitute Australia’s Airbus plane. What can.” – Manufacturing facility Fleet.
The federal government introduced plans in January to interchange the Taipans with 40 UH-60M Black Hawks. The Taipan’s retirement date of December 2024 would have been 13 years sooner than Australia had initially deliberate.
Marles stated the federal government has now taken a call to floor the Taipan planes as a result of one of many 4 investigations into the accident will take one other 12 months. He added that after the reason for the accident was clarified and any faults within the Taipan fleet had been corrected, they solely had a couple of weeks left to fly earlier than their retirement.
Because the January announcement, the Taipan fleet was grounded in March after a helicopter landed off the southeast coast of Australia throughout a nighttime counter-terrorism train. All ten passengers and crew members had been rescued.
Australia’s first three Sikorsky Black Hawks had been delivered this month.
“There are going to be challenges across the functionality hole right here, and that is why we’re working with our worldwide companions, particularly the USA, specifically to get extra time to coach aircrew to allow them to depend on the black program.” “Falcons as quickly as attainable,” Marles stated.
The Australian Military may also start flying new Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters from 2025.
The Australian Protection Drive will proceed to make use of MH-60R Seahawks, in addition to Eurocopter Tigers and Boeing CH-47F Chinooks.