Australia will refuse the operation of European MRH 90 Taipan helicopters developed by Eurocopter. Canberra will replace MRH 90 American Sikorsky Uh-60m Black Hawk helicopters. About it reports Defense News.
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said that MRH 90 Taipan multipurpose helicopters will derive for ten years ahead of schedule. The country plans to buy 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
Refusal to European helicopters explained by a high cost of service. Initially, aircraft planned to operate until 2037. Dutton stressed that the purchase of UH-60M will save about 1.8 billion dollars to 2037.
In publications, it is noted that the application for the purchase of new helicopters coincided with the refusal of obsolete S-70A-9 Black Hawk. Mrh 90 helicopters purchased for replacement Bell Uh-1h Iroquois, Westland Sea King MK.50A / B and S-70A-9 Black Hawk.
The basis of MRH 90 is the NHI NH90 helicopter, developed by the Eurocopter consortium. The battle load of the machine is 700 kilograms. MRH 90 can carry controlled rockets, bombs and anti-submarine torpedoes.
Previously, the source of RIA Novosti in the defense and industrial complex reported on the supply of Mi-8amtsh-VN helicopters to the Russian Armed Forces. Helicopters of fire support will be supplied within two contracts.