Bye Bye Taipans ...
Hello ... Sikorsky Romeo Seahawks
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Australia to buy $1.3 billion fleet of US-made choppers as navy dumps troubled European-made MRH-90 Taipans
The Royal Australian Navy is set to dump its troubled fleet of European-made MRH 90 Taipan helicopters, replacing them with US-made Seahawks in a deal worth around $1.3 billion.
Key points:
- The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency has approved the sale of 12 Sikorsky Romeo Seahawk helicopters to Australia
- The helicopters are expected to eventually replace the navy's six Airbus-made MRH-90s
- Australia's fleet of MRH 90s were first acquired from 2006 but have suffered from poor availability since entering service
Earlier this year, the ADF grounded all 47 Taipan helicopters used by the navy and army due to safety and maintenance concerns.
Overnight, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency revealed it had approved the sale of 12 Sikorsky Romeo Seahawk helicopters to Australia, expected to eventually replace the navy's six Airbus-made MRH-90s.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the government of Australia of MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters, related defence services, and related equipment for an estimated cost of $986 million USD," a statement said.
HERE
MH-60R Romeo Seahawk technical review world’s most advanced maritime helicopter