Australia to scrap decommissioned MRH‑90 helicopters, rejecting Ukraine's appeal
In July 2023, an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed during a joint exercise with the Australians and Americans. The four Australian soldiers onboard perished. This incident contributed not only to an earlier-than-planned retirement of these units but also to the decision to scrap them.
6:49 AM EST, January 15, 2024
The matter involves 45 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters. Citing safety and operational problems, the Australian authorities scraped the aircraft. This is also why the helicopters will not be transferred to Ukraine. The Australian portal ABC noted that Ukraine, currently engaged in war with Russia, had formally requested to acquire the MRH-90 Taipan despite its known issues and unsatisfactory technical conditions.
The MRH-90 Taipan is a versatile helicopter, an Australian model of the European NH90. It is powered by two engines (the Rolls-Royce Turboméca RTM322-01/9 or the General Electric T700/T6E1), offering a combined horsepower exceeding 4,000. The helicopter weighs 14,110 pounds, and its cabin can accommodate two pilots and up to 20 passengers.
The MRH-90 Taipan can reach a top speed of 186 miles per hour and climb up to 19,685 feet. Its standard equipment includes a 7.62 mm machine gun but can also be equipped with air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles.
The refusal to transfer the MRH-90 Taipan does not alter that Australia is among the nations most fervently supporting Ukraine, providing many valuable weapons, including the Bushmaster armored transports.
Eager to alter the latest course of the war, the Ukrainians are seeking as many fighters and helicopters as possible. They aim to gain air superiority over the Russians, a move expected to be aided by the F-16 fighters. It's worth mentioning that the Australian theme also arises in the context of this particular aircraft. Kyiv is attempting to acquire Australian F/A-18 Hornet fighters. Despite their less-than-ideal technical condition, inspections determined that 14 specimens retained their combat capability and thus could be considered for transfer to Ukraine.
