Coveted Apache and Black Hawks to replace Tiger, Taipan choppers

After almost two decades of service, Defence is set to replace its Tiger and Taipan helicopter fleets with off-the-shelf Apache and Black Hawk helicopters from the US.

A US Army AH-64E Apache at a previous Avalon Airshow. Picture: Nigel Pittaway

After almost two decades of service, Defence is set to replace its European Tiger and Taipan helicopter fleets with off-the-shelf Apache and Black Hawk helicopters from the US.

The Airbus Helicopters Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) and NH Industries MRH 90 Taipan Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) entered service in 2004 and 2007 respectively but remained unloved throughout their careers, amid perceived performance shortfalls and high cost of ownership.

Both have been the subject of concentrated remediation efforts by Defence and industry, and although the Tiger in particular has been performing very effectively as a result, the writing has been on the wall for some time.

The army has made no secret of the fact that it has long coveted the Apache and Black Hawk and was reportedly disappointed when the European helicopters were originally ordered by the Howard government in 2001 and 2005.

The Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter was ultimately selected as Tiger’s replacement under Defence’s $5bn Land 4503 program in January 2021 and, at the time, then defence minister Linda Reynolds said the US helicopter was “the most lethal, most survivable and lowest risk option”.

“By pursuing a proven and low-risk system offered by the Apache, Defence will avoid the ongoing cost and schedule risk typically associated with developmental platforms,” Reynolds said at the time.

Defence is acquiring 29 Apaches to replace the 22 Tiger ARHs and they will at least initially be based in Darwin with the army’s 1st Aviation Regiment from 2025.

The MRH 90 is army’s primary battlefield airlift helicopter and is also used by the navy as an embarked Logistics Support Helicopter capability. However, the navy quietly stopped flying their six Taipans in April 2022 and they have been since placed into storage.

In September 2022, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $985m contract to supply 13 additional Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk naval combat helicopters to Australia under Project Sea 9100, bringing the navy’s fleet up to 36 units.

An RAN Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk at Avalon in 2019. Picture: Nigel Pittaway

One will be a replacement for a machine lost at sea in October 2021, but the other 12 will be delivered without their extensive anti-submarine warfare equipment from 2025 and will replace the now-retired Taipans in the Logistics Support Helicopter role.

Finally, the army’s desire to acquire new Black Hawks became reality in January when Defence confirmed the sale of up to 40 Sikorsky UH-60M battlefield helicopters under Project Land 4057.

A US Army UH-60M Black Hawk. Picture: Lockheed Martin

The sale had received US Congressional approval in August 2022, at which time the deal was valued at an estimated $US1.95bn ($2.82bn).

While the announcement itself had long been expected, it contained some surprises, revealing the first helicopter will be delivered by the end of 2023 and that the fleet would not be based in Townsville as expected, but at Oakey in Queensland and Holsworthy in NSW.

“Townsville will continue to be the home of the expanded (Boeing) CH-47F Chinook fleet,” a Defence spokesperson said. “The Chinook fleet was originally envisaged to offer medium lift from Townsville through six aircraft. This has been incrementally increased to 14 aircraft.”