Australia Earmarks $2B for Black Hawk Helicopters

Australia’s defence ministry is buying 40 Black Hawk helicopters for $1.96 billion to replace the Army’s ageing MRH-90 Taipan choppers.

Delivery of new UH-60Ms will begin this year.

The U.S. State Department greenlit the sale in August 2022.

In September 2021, Australia joined the U.S. and the U.K. in a trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS, which could see Canberra fielding a fleet of nuclear submarines by 2040.  An announcement on the final cost and design plans for Australia’s AUKUS fleet is expected soon.

The Black Hawk will operate from Oakey, QLD and Holsworthy, NSW.

Australian industry will be involved in logistic support, warehousing services, training development and engineering services, as well in the aircraft’s global supply chain.