US approves sale of 40 Black Hawk helicopters to Australia

Asia-Pacific, News, US August 30, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The Australian Defense Force’s request to buy $1.94 billion worth of 40 U.S.-made Black Hawk helicopters got approval from the U.S. State Department. Australia plans to replace its aging fleet of MRH90 Taipan utility helicopters with UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval of the sale through an official statement on August 24. The statement said, “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.95 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.”

The statement further highlighted that the “proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.”

“The UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter will improve the Australian Army’s ability to deploy combat power to share Australia’s strategic environment, deter actions against its interests, and, when required, respond with credible force. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” DSCA’s announcement added.

Australia chose the U.S.-made UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to replace its 47 Taipan utility helicopters by 2037. Given that Australia’s Taipan fleet of 47 helicopters entered service in December 2007, it was expected to serve longer. However, due to the high maintenance cost, modification delays, and poor parts availability Australian Defense Forces decided to retire the fleet and replace it with newer and more reliable utility helicopters.

^{An Australian Army MRH90 Taipan helicopter from the 5th Aviation Regimen takes off for a sortie during Vigilant Scimitar, Townsville Field Training Area, 18 November 2020. (Image Credit: Australian Department of Defence)}

The replacement of the Taipan helicopters is a part of Australia’s ongoing military modernization program. Earlier in January 2021, Australia replaced its European Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters with U.S.-made Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters under the same military modernization program.

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in March 2022 that his government would spend $19 billion to expand the country’s defense capabilities, especially in the wake of China’s increasing military might in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Black Hawk deal would also include 88 General Electrics’ T700-GE 701D engines, BAE Technology’s 44 AN/AAR-57 counter missile warning systems as well as other navigation and communication systems. The U.S.-based defense giant Lockheed Martin would be the principal contractor of the deal.

In June 2022, the U.S. State Department also cleared deals with Australia for 80 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles-Extended Range worth $235 million and AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles worth $94 million.