Australia has confirmed it will acquire 40 U.S.-made Black Hawk helicopters for the Australian army, which will begin arriving this year to replace its current French-made Taipan helicopter fleet.
The request, made by the former Morrison government, was approved by the U.S. State Department in August 2022 for an estimated $2.82 billion (US$1.95 billion).
Major General Jeremy King, the head of land capability, said it was an important acquisition to meet the strategic needs of the army.
“The Black Hawk capability will be a crucial element for us to protect Australia’s sovereignty and deliver foreign policy objectives, including providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” King said in a media release on Jan. 18….