Australia Receives First 3 Black Hawk Choppers

The Australian Defence Force took delivery of first three of 40 ordered UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters recently.

“The first 3 of a planned fleet of 40 UH-60M Black Hawks arrived recently in Sydney on board two U.S.A.F. C-17A Globemasters,” the country’s defence forces confirmed in a statement on August 22. “The Black Hawks will undergo a short period of testing before they are ready to commence flying operations later this year.”

Earlier, reports claimed two Black Hawks were delivered days after one of Australian Army’s old MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, the aircraft that were to be replaced by Black Hawks, crashed.

Australia signed a $1.95 billion contract for acquisition of 40 Black Hawks and related equipment under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) in January.

U.S.-made Black Hawks were bought to replace European-made Taipan choppers that have been grounded on multiple occasions over maintenance and safety issues. The fleet was pulled from the skies as recently as in March after an engine failure in one of the helicopters forced the crew to ditch into the sea off the coast of New South Wales.