Page 12 - AVALON 2023 - Day 2 | DAILY NEWS

© Gordon Arthur

AUSTRALIA AWAITS BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS

On 18 January, Canberra announced that 47 MRH90s. nations. The Black Hawk will enhance
it had procured 40 UH-60M Black Hawks future joint operations and the ongoing
from Sikorsky for the Australian Army. This As Defence Minister Richard Marles protection of Australia and the Indo-Pacific
prospective sale had first been publicised explained, ‘We have been struggling with region.’
by the USA on 25 August 2022, and is worth the Taipans for many years, in terms of
an estimated AUD2.8 billion (USD1.96 bil- maintenance issues, getting spare parts. The Australian Army is familiar with the
lion) if all options are exercised. We are confident that we can get that Black Hawk, having flown the S-70A-9
from the Black Hawks. It’s a platform we’re variant till all were retired in late 2021. The
In remarkably smart fashion, the first of the familiar with, we’ve operated in different purchase of the UH-60Ms is immune to the
new Black Hawks (believed to be six units) contexts before.’ outcomes of the Defence Strategic Review.
will be delivered this year. The reminder will
be delivered through till 2026 under this Even the US Defense Security Cooperation There are no offset requirements attached
Project Land 4507 Phase 1 effort. Agency slapped down the Taipan, stating: to this transaction, and five American con-
‘The proposed sale will replace Australia’s tractors will offer in-country support for a
Major General Jeremy King, Head of Land current multirole helicopter fleet with a three-year period. Nor is there any mention
Capability for the Australian Army, said on more reliable and proven system that will of special forces MH-60G/HH-60G variants,
suggesting the UH-60M will fulfil this role.
18 January: ‘The Black Hawk capability allow Australia to maintain the appropri-
will be a crucial element for us to protect ate level of readiness to conduct combined Part of the contract includes internal aux-
iliary fuel tank systems, fast rope insertion
Australia’s sovereignty and deliver foreign operations.’ extraction systems, external rescue hoists,
policy objects, including providing human- The UH-60Ms will operate out of Oakey in dual patient litter system sets, External
itarian assistance and disaster relief.’
Queensland, and Holsworthy in New South Stores Support Systems and external gun
Wales. Notably, they will not be stationed mounts.
King also noted that the Black Hawk ‘is a
reliable, proven and mature platform sup- at Townsville, which has hosted two battle-
field mobility squadrons of the 5th Aviation It appears that the army’s need to obtain
ported by a robust global supply chain’. Regiment since the 1990s. That leaves only new helicopters as swiftly as possible
This was an oblique reference to the prob- CH-47F Chinooks in Townsville. meant it did not consider leapfrogging
lems that Australia has had with its MRH90 straight to a next-generation helicopter,
Taipan helicopters, the fleet plagued by sus- The government had stated in December something the US Army is doing with its
tainability difficulties and high operating 2021 that it would be getting rid of the Future Vertical Lift programme.
costs. Taipans and exchanging them for Black
Hawks under a Foreign Military Sale. The MRH90’s annual sustainment cost has
The MRH90 has been listed as a ‘project of doubled to approximately AUD300 million
concern’ since 2011. Supposed to remain in Lockheed Martin Australia welcomed the (USD209 million). If a midlife upgrade had
service till 2037, its final operational capa- government’s announcement. Warren been factored in, it would have cost the
bility has never been declared and it has McDonald, its Chief Executive, enthused: Australian Army some AUD9.5 billion to
struggled to fulfil the special operations ‘Australia’s acquisition of the Black Hawk keep the Taipans operating till their life of
role. The arrival of the Black Hawks will reinforces our nation’s enduring military type expires. In light of this, the Black Hawk
allow the army to retire its entire fleet of interoperability with the US and allied deal’s price tag looks quite attractive.

12 | MARCH-01-2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS