Posted on 02/03/2023
The Australian Defense Forces (ADF) decided not to acquire 16 light helicopters to support Special Forces operations. This news comes directly from Major General Stephen Jobson, Australian Army Air Force Commander.
In their place, the UH-60M Black Hawk (Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation) will be used.
Speaking to reporters at the 2023 Avalon International Airshow on March 1, Major Jen Jobson said the Land 2097 Phase 4 project has been canceled due to potential overlaps, in the wake of plans to acquire the Boeing AH-64E Apache, Guardian, and Sikorsky UH-60M Black. Hawk and an expanded fleet of Boeing CH-47F Chinooks.
All 22 Airbus Tiger reconnaissance helicopters will be replaced by AH-64E Apache attack helicopters within a decade, and the CH-47 fleet has already been increased from 10 to 14 aircraft.
The tender for light helicopters, published in July 2020, has been answered by Airbus Group Australia Pacific with Airbus Helicopters H145M; Babcock and Jet Australia both have a solution based on the Bell 429.
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