Australia refuses to transfer decommissioned MRH‑90 Taipan helicopters to Ukraine
A few days ago, we reported on the Australian authorities' decision not to supply Ukraine with MRH-90 Taipan helicopters after this news surfaced in local media. An official statement has since been released. Defence Minister Pat Conroy indicated that Ukraine's request was too late as the disposing of these machines had already started. He further highlighted the poor technical condition as the primary reason for discontinuing the use of MRH-90 Taipan in the Australian Air Force.
5:55 AM EST, January 19, 2024
Ukraine won't receive the MRH-90 Taipan due to late request
"To bring any of these helicopters into a usable state would necessitate significant investments in time and resources," he stated.
The decision to retire 45 Taipan MRH-90 helicopters was provoked by a disaster that happened last year in Queensland when one of the helicopters involved in the exercise crashed, leading to the deaths of four Australian military personnel. Less severe incidents with the Taipan MRH-90 have also occurred in the past. Instead, Australia is transitioning to UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
However, some experts argue that Australia hasn't adequately considered Ukraine's immense needs. If they had, efforts would have been made to refurbish some of the Taipan MRH-90s.
"The hasty decision to decommission serviceable helicopters, rather than donating them to a country in desperate need, is an insult and a national embarrassment," argued retired General Mick Ryan, describing the Australian authority's decision as "scandalous".
MRH-90 Taipan helicopters are being scrapped. What else can Ukraine anticipate?
The ABC News website notes that the Australian government is one of Ukraine’s major donors outside of NATO. Justifying the decision to discard the Taipan MRH-90s, Pat Conroy asserted that Australia would explore other avenues to persist in its support for the nation's defense against Russia.
The debates surrounding the MRH-90 Taipan are not surprising since there've been ongoing requests to bolster the Ukrainian air forces for several months. This is an area where Russia has maintained a clear advantage since the war's inception.
The MRH-90 Taipan is a versatile helicopter, the Australian version of the European NH90. It's powered by a Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9 or a General Electric T700/T6E1 engine, providing a cumulative power of over 4000 HP. Weighing 14,109 lb, it can accommodate two pilots and up to 20 passengers.
Presently, the Ukrainian army is hopeful of acquiring F-16 fighters. In the foreseeable future, it might receive several dozens of units. However, there's an increased push from Ukrainian allies for assistance in the form of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters, French Mirage-2000D fighters, and other Australian machines like the F/A-18 Hornet fighters.
