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Royal Australian Navy - Aviation MRH-90 Taipan |
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Serials / markings: Royal Australian Navy: 6 units (from a pool of 46 shared with the Royal Australian Army) A40-001 / A40-002 / A40-003 / A40-004 / A40-005 / A40-006 / A40-007 / A40-008 / A40-009 / A40-010 A40-011 / A40-012 / A40-013 / A40-014 / A40-015 / A40-016 / A40-017 / A40-018 / A40-019 / A40-020 A40-021 / A40-022 / A40-023 / A40-024 / A40-025 / A40-026 / A40-027 / A40-028 / A40-029 / A40-030 A40-031 / A40-032 / A40-033 / A40-034 / A40-035 / A40-036 / A40-037 / A40-038 / A40-039 / A40-040 A40-041 / A40-042 / A40-043 / A40-044 / A40-045 / A40-046 NOTE: all Royal Australian Army and Navy MRH-90 are out of service |
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The MRH-90 Taipan Multi-role Helicopter is the name for the NHIndustries NH90 helicopter in service with the Australian Army and the Royal
Australian Navy in the early 21st century. It entered service in
December 2007, and was withdrawn from service in 2022 by the Navy
and in 2023 by the Army. Most of the aircraft were assembled in
Australia. The fleet was originally scheduled for retirement in
2037. After the aircraft's withdrawal, they were offered for sale
then disassembled for parts which is ongoing as of 2024. A total of 47 helicopters were acquired, primarily operated by the Army with 40 in service with 12 of those made special operations capable. High-maintenance costs and several groundings led to their retirement date being brought forward to 2024. After two accidents in 2023, including one hull loss, the Army MRH-90s were withdrawn from service a year earlier, in September 2023. The Navy operated 6 MRH-90s for support and logistics including from the Canberra-class Landing helicopter dock (LHD), which were withdrawn from service in 2022, a year earlier than the Army. With no buyers, the fleet ended up in storage with major components being sold for parts to other operators, and the airframes destined to be buried. AIR 9000 programme: In 2004, Australia announced it would order 12 NH90s to supplement the Army's aging S-70A Black Hawk helicopters. In June 2006, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced plans to replace its S-70A-9 Black Hawk and Westland Sea King helicopters; a further 34 NH90s were ordered for a total of 46; four were manufactured in Europe while 42 being manufactured locally by Australian Aerospace (an Airbus Helicopters subsidiary) in Brisbane. Its ADF designation and name "MRH-90 Taipan" refers to its use as a "Multi Role Helicopter" and refers to a native species of snake. The first MRH-90 entered service in December 2007 with the Army. Six MRH-90s would be operated by 808 Squadron of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which was reformed in 2011 and recommissioned in 2013. Overall, there were 46 airframes in service, with a 47th kept as a spare. The first airframe took flight in Marignane, France in March 2007, to be delivered to Australia that year. The first two were delivered in December 2007. Out of 46, 42 of the aircraft were assembled by Australian Aerospace, which was part of Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter before 2014). The helicopter was ordered by the Australian Department of Defence starting in 2004 to fulfil the AIR 9000 programme. Twelve were ordered in 2004 for Phase 2 of AIR 9000, and an additional 34 were ordered in 2006 in later phases. The Australian assembled aircraft were part of the Australian Industry Capability Package, which included work at facilities in Townsville, Oakey, Nowra and Holsworthy, Australia. By 2011, 15 aircraft had been delivered. A 47th MRH-90, in addition to the 46, was added and allowed one air-frame to be used as a Ground Training Device. Overall the MRH-90 supplemented or replaced Black Hawks or Sea Kings in Australian service. The MRH-90 was originally scheduled to be retired in 2037. In December 2021, on the same day the older generation of S-70 Black Hawks were retired, the Australian Government announced plans to replace the Army's MRH-90 fleet with new UH-60M Black Hawks; their retirement date was moved to 2024. In April 2022, the RAN ceased flying their MRH-90s and stored them. In May 2022, the government announced that the RAN's six MRH-90s would be replaced with more MH-60R Seahawks; it already operated 24 Seahawks, delivered between 2013 and 2016, alongside the MRH-90. In August 2022, Australia approved the purchase of 40 UH-60M Blackhawks to replace the MRH-90. On 29 September 2023, the Australian Government announced that the MRH-90 would not return to ADF service, bringing forward the previously planned retirement date from December 2024. Officials stated the early retirement was not meant to suggest the outcome of the crash investigation, which was still ongoing; with the fleet having been grounded since the July 2023 crash. At the time of its grounding, there were 38 MRH-90s in service. The ADF invested about $3.5 billion over two decades in the program. Specifications: Manufacturer: Australian Aerospace (Eurocopter subsidiary) Crew: 2 flight crew + loadmaster Capacity: 20 seated troops; or 12 medevac stretchers; or 2 NATO pallets; or 4,200 kg (9,259 lb) external slung load Length: 16.13 m (52 ft 11 in) Height: 5.23 m (17 ft 2 in) Empty weight: 6,400 kg (14,110 lb) Max takeoff weight: 10,600 kg (23,369 lb) Main rotor diameter: 16.3 m (53 ft 6 in) Main rotor area: 208.699 m2 (2,246.42 sq ft) Powerplant: 2 x Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-1/9 turboshaft engines, 1,662 kW (2,230 hp) each Maximum speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn) Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi) TTH Endurance: 5 hours Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft) Rate of climb: 8 m/s (1,600 ft/min) |
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