Australia opts for Eurocopter heavy-lift chopper over US Black Hawks

WAR.WIRE

Australia opts for Eurocopter heavy-lift chopper over US Black Hawks
SYDNEY (AFP) Aug 31, 2004
Australia said Wednesday its military will buy 12 heavy-lift MRH-90 helicopters from Eurocopter in a deal worth one billion dollars (700 million US) after choosing the European design over the Black Hawk chopper from the US, Canberra's preferred military supplier.

In a move designed to boost the federal government's national security credentials ahead of an October 9 election, Prime Minister John Howard said the new helicopters would significantly boost Australia's counter-terrorism capabilities.

"It has been estimated that this new squadron will increase the army's troop-lift capacity by more than one half," Howard told reporters.

Howard said the helicopter acquisition would also free up an existing squadron of Black Hawk helicopters to support special forces defending Australia's east coast.

The contract was awarded to Eurocopter's Australian subsidiary Australian Aerospace, with the aircraft to be delivered between 2007 and 2008.

Australian Aerospace edged out US firm Sikorsky for the contract, even though the Australian Defence Force already has 36 Black Hawks and has preferred US contractors in recent years to ensure its military has "inter-operability" with US forces.

Canberra has signed up to Washington's controversial missile defense shield, is spending an estimated 16 billion dollars on the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and earlier this year ordered 59 second-hand US Abrams tanks.

Army chief, lieutenant general Peter Leahy, said the MRH-90's ability to operate from amphibious ships was a crucial factor in awarding the contract.

The MRH-90, also known as the NH-90, can carry up to 18 troops and will be based at Townsville in the north of the state of Queensland.

The helicopters will be manufactured in Europe and assembled in Brisbane, Queensland.

They are capable of a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine operations, search and rescue, anti-aircraft warfare, air supply, troop transport, medical evacuation and ground-based missions.

The helicopters are built Eurocopter, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.

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