Australia announced today that it will decommission Taipan (NH-90) helicopters ahead of schedule, following a crash of the same type in July during a joint military exercise with the US, resulting in the death of the 4-member crew.

The Taipan helicopter fleet will not regain operational status before its planned decommissioning date of December 2024, Defence Secretary Richard Marles said.

“Today’s announcement does not in any way prescribe the outcome of the investigations into the tragic accident,” the Minister said in the same announcement.

Australia announced in January its intention to buy 40 Black Hawk military helicopters manufactured by US Lockheed Martin worth up to 1.80 billion dollars (1.70 billion euros).

The Black Hawk helicopters will replace the Taipan helicopters which for years have been plagued by issues related to their technical support.

Australia has maintained 47 Taipan helicopters in service since they joined the country’s Armed Forces, according to Marls.

Source: APA MPA