Ending the Era: Australia’s Burial of 45 Taipan Helicopters
The Australian Army is disposing of 45 Taipan utility helicopters worth $900 million by disassembling them and burying the parts in a defense field. According to reports, technicians are secretly taking apart each of the helicopters, which are valued at around $20 million each in the second-hand market.
The decision to destroy the helicopters comes after an announcement on September 29 that the Taipans would not be returning to service following an accident during Exercise Talisman Saber that resulted in the death of four soldiers. The twin-engine Taipans, which weigh 10 tons, are being cut into pieces due to their strong carbon fiber structures.
Despite being sold to 14 countries, many have difficulty keeping Taipan helicopters combat-ready. The helicopters removed from Australia’s inventory will be replaced by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, which the government announced the purchase of earlier this year. The 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters are estimated to cost $1.9 billion and also include 80+8 T-700-GE-701D Turboshaft Engines, 44 AN/AAR-57 Counter Missile Warning Systems (CMWS), and additional equipment.
This decision marks the end of the line for the Taipan helicopters in the Australian Army, as they make way for the new fleet of Black Hawks to take their place. The information was obtained from the Asia Pacific Defense Reporter.
