2024-01-16 08:54:00
There is a threat of scrap in Australia. Ukraine is desperately fighting for 45 helicopters
January 16, 2024, 9:54 a.m. Listen to article
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Australia has retired its Taipan MRH-90 helicopters following a devastating accident. Despite security concerns, Ukraine would like to use them in war and asks Sydney to hand over the 45 copies. However, the dismantling should already be underway – there is a risk of scrap.
Ukraine is fighting to deliver the Taipan MRH-90 helicopters that were prematurely retired in Australia following a fatal accident. Four people were killed in a crash last summer and the army then suspended flights with the model. Kiev, on the other hand, considers the 45 helicopters to be good enough for use in the fight once morest the Russian invasion, despite security concerns.
“Our assessment of the risk is different. We are at war,” said Anton Bogdanovych, who recently co-organized a rally of Ukraine supporters in Sydney, according to >. However, despite an official request from the government, there do not appear to have been any corresponding signals. Because the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said: “We have not yet received an answer.” However, he hopes that “there is still a possibility”.
The Australian Association of Ukrainian Organizations (AFUO) also recently called on the Australian government in a statement to send the decommissioned Taipan helicopters to Ukraine “instead of spending millions on dumping them and dismantling them for scrap.” The 45 helicopters might “be a great help to the Ukrainian air force in the fight once morest Russian attacks.” The AFUO says it has already put the request on the agenda of Defense Minister Richard Marles.
Spare parts warehouse instead of war effort?
According to >, the dismantling process has already begun as no country or other parties have shown interest in the entire helicopter. A Defense Department spokesman said the department would dispose of the remaining airframes and systems “in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner.”
It is also working with Airbus Australia Pacific and NATO Helicopter Industries to “obtain important spare parts from the MRH-90 fleet for other NH90 operators”. The Bundeswehr and the French armed forces, among others, use NH90 multi-purpose helicopters – but not in the Australian Taipan version.
“Support packages have become smaller”
Australia is considered one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters outside Europe. Shortly following the start of the full-scale invasion by Russian forces, Sydney had handed over Bushmaster armored cars to Kiev. Other weapons systems and hundreds of millions of dollars in financial aid were also sent to Ukraine to repel the invasion of Kremlin troops.
There is still criticism from the AFUO. “The Prime Minister has said he stands with Ukraine, but support packages have become smaller and more infrequent. Almost two years following the start of the Russian invasion, Australia is in danger of simply standing by rather than standing up for what is right,” he said Chairman of the association, Stefan Romaniw.
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