The Australian Department of Defense has announced that it has completed the purchase of 40 Black Hawks helicopters from the US
The 2.8 billion AUD contract (US$1.95 billion) aims to improve the military's combat capabilities and emergency response capabilities
in the context of increasingly volatile and complex regional security
The announcement on January 18 said that the Australian Army would soon eliminate its fleet of European-made MRH-90 Taipan helicopters
which are now degraded and not capable of combat in the new situation.
The acquisition will be made as part of the Project LAND 4507-1 of the Australian Army
and would be done through US Foreign Military Sales (US FMS) program.
The deliveries of the Black Hawk helicopters are expected to start later this year
Australian Army Head of Land Capability Major General Jeremy King said that the UH-60M Black Hawk will meet Australia’s strategic needs
and is considered a more reliable and proven system supported by a robust supply chain
The Australian Army currently operates around 41 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters
These helicopters have struggled with supply and maintenance problems for several years
With the arrival of the UH-60M Black Hawk, Taipan will retire a decade earlier than planned
It has been confirmed that the Australian Army will decommission Taipan in December 2024, 13 years earlier than planned.
The UH-60M is an upgraded variant of the famous UH-60 Black Hawk series, manufactured by Sikorsky
The UH-60M was developed in 2001, incorporating upgraded T700-GE-701D engines, improved rotor blades
and state of the art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control
The UH-60 Black Hawk, has been operational in the US Army since 1978
and variants of the Black Hawk are operational or have been ordered by 25 international customers
As a multipurpose utility helicopter, the UH-60 can be armed to become an attack helicopter
The UH-60 can be fitted with two pintle mounts, capable of accepting a variety of weapons
The helicopter can equip up to 16 Hellfire missiles, as well as 2.75" rocket pods, FIM-92 Stinger anti-air missiles
as well as aerial mine delivery systems, such as the volcano and the M56 mine delivery system
The UH-60 is equipped with troop accommodations for eight, which can be removed to accommodate four full-sized medical litters
The Black Hawk can transport 11 fully equipped combat soldiers in an assault ready configuration, or 14 in a maximum capacity situation
Maximum troop carrying capacity is 20 lightly equipped personnel
The dedicated medevac variant of the Black Hawk can accommodate 6 litters
The new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters will be used for different combat and peacetime operations including protection of Australia’s sovereignty
deployment and support of troops and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
In another development, the removal of the Taipan helicopter will disappoint France
The French government has been lobbying for Australia to continue operating the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters
with Airbus announcing its commitment to fully support these helicopters