The State Department had given the green light to the potential sale in August 2022.
The Australian government confirmed today that it will buy 40 Black Hawk military helicopters from the US for an estimated price of A$2.8 billion (US$1.96 billion; €1.82 billion).
The State Department had given the green light to the potential sale in August 2022.
The UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters will replace the existing fleet of MRH-90 Taipans, which have had maintenance problems for years. Deliveries of the new helicopters will begin this year.
“We’re just not getting the flight hours we need from the Taipans,” Defense Secretary Richard Marles told ABC television. “We are sure that we will secure them from Black Hawk. It’s a platform we’re familiar with.”
Australia has been increasing its military spending in recent years, citing concerns about the rise of China and its activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia’s decision to scrap a multi-billion euro deal to buy submarines from France and replace them with nuclear-powered submarines built by the US and Britain has sparked a diplomatic spat between Canberra and Paris.
Mr. Marles assured that he has spoken repeatedly with his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu and said he is confident that the purchase of the helicopters from the US will not cause new problems in the bilateral relationship. The Taipan is manufactured by Airbus, a European industry partly owned by the French government.
Australia’s defense industry will play a role in the procurement, storage, maintenance and global supply chain of the helicopter, the country’s defense ministry said in a press release.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
