ADF admits to door flaw on its $3.8bn MRH-90 Taipan helicopters

Defence officials admit the door on its Taipan helicopters is too narrow to allow covering fire as troops are rappelling from it.

An Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopter. Picture: ADF

Defence officials have told Senate estimates the door on the army’s $3.8bn MRH-90 Taipan helicopters is too narrow to allow its gun to fire while troops are rappelling from the aircraft.

Officials said the department had tried three different designs of the gun mount for the European-designed helicopter – which was purchased as a fully-capable helicopter – but none would allow soldiers to exit the aircraft while it was delivering suppressing fire.

“It is not an issue of the gun mount design. It is an issue of the width of the door,” Defence’s helicopter capability and sustainment head Shane Fairweather said.

“The door isn’t wide enough to enable the safe exit while firing is taking place.”

Australia has a a fleet of 47 MRH-90 helicopters.

An Australian Army special forces soldier conducts a fast-rope descent from an Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopter. Picture: ADF

The Senate’s foreign affairs and defence committee heard “tactical workarounds” had been developed, in which a second helicopter would cover a helicopter with rappelling soldiers.

Chief of Defence Angus Campbell defended the MRH-90 as an “extraordinary helicopter” which would not be flown alone.

“You are quite right – there is an issue with the door gun. We know it, we are working on it,” he said.

But he said the “tactical effect” of delivering troops to the ground while laying down suppressing fire could still be achieved.

“It requires a careful planning of the employment of our aircraft. We never fly an aircraft on its own.”

A MRH-90 Taipan helicopter during the summer bushfires in NSW. Picture: Supplied

Chief of navy Mike Noonan told Senate Estimates the cargo hook on the navy’s MRH-90 had also been an “ongoing problem”, but a solution was expected soon.

Senate estimates heard the navy’s MRH-90 helicopters were set to be replaced just three years after reaching final operating capability, as the service looks to procure a single helicopter to perform different roles.

Mr Fairweather said the MRH-90s were “highly advanced” but had “a number of issues around maintainability, technical response, (and) supply chain surety”.

“Australia was the fleet leader by some way, which is not where we intended to be,” he said.

“So we have hit all the problems for the first time, around the airframe.”