According to the head of the Australian army's land capability, Major General Jeremy King, the acquisition would "be a crucial element to protect Australia's sovereignty, and deliver foreign policy objectives, including providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief." He went on to describe the Black Hawk as a "reliable, proven and mature platform supported by a robust global supply chain."
The decision to replace the 41 Taipan helicopters, which were deemed unreliable and had to be replaced with commercial helicopters, was made amid a Defense Strategic Review currently being conducted in Australia. This review is assessing the country's force structure and spending decisions, and is set to be made public in March.
It is worth noting that the decision to replace the Taipan fleet was made by the previous Liberal Party government, with the former defense minister, Peter Dutton, announcing in December 2021 that the army would scrap its fleet of Taipan helicopters.
The UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the United States Army in the 1970s and has been in service since 1979. The helicopter is primarily used for air assault, transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation, and command and control operations. It can carry up to 11 fully equipped troops or a combination of troops and cargo, and has a range of around 300 miles.
The UH-60M variant, which Australia plans to acquire, features upgraded engines and avionics, as well as improved digital communications and navigation capabilities. It has been widely used in military operations around the world and is known for its reliability and versatility.
Source: defence.gov.au, Breaking Defense
