http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #359 FEBRUARY 2018 // 67
808 Squadron based at Nowra.
Under phases 2, 4 and 6 of
Project Air 9000, 46 MRH90s
were initially to be acquired, but
a 47th helicopter was later added
at no cost to the Commonwealth,
as partial compensation for its
delayed entry into service.
Like the Tiger, Australia’s
MRH90s have suffered a series
of technical and reliability issues
that are ongoing and, in November
2016, the helicopter remained
on the Australian government’s
‘Projects of Concern’ list.
Like the Tiger, the initial four
helicopters were assembled in
Europe and the remainder by
Airbus Group Australia Pacific.
CH-47F Chinook
Seven CH-47Fs (A15-301 to 307)
were ordered under Project Air
9000 Phase 5C in May 2010 to
replace six CH-47Ds, for delivery
between 2014 and 2017. The first
two arrived in Townsville aboard
a US Air Force C-5A Galaxy in
May 2015 and all seven had
been delivered by August 2016.
In December 2015, the US
Defence Security Cooperation
Agency (DSCA) announced the
possible sale of an additional three
CH-47Fs to Australia, bringing
the total to ten. Acquired under
Project Land 4502 Phase 1, the
three helicopters will increase
the ADF’s air mobile, air assault,
aero medical evacuation and
amphibious operations capabilities.
All three were delivered to Australia
by the end of June 2017, two and
a half months ahead of schedule.
Australia’s Chinooks are almost
identical to the US Army baseline
helicopter in order to leverage the
efficiencies of a much larger fleet.
“Not only does the ADF see
the benefits of scale in the
initial purchase price but the
ongoing cost of consumable
and repairable items is greatly
reduced,” explained Major Michael
Hansen, Executive Officer Cargo
Helicopter Management Unit for
Australia’s Capability Acquisition
and Sustainment Group (CASG).
6th Aviation Regiment
Raised on March 1, 2008, the
6 AVN REGT is the newest of
the three AA Avn regiments. It
has two helicopter flying units:
the 171st and 173rd Aviation
Squadrons, both equipped with
the Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black
Hawk at Luscombe Army Airfield
at Holsworthy. Unlike the
two other aviation regiments,
Above: Commandos from Alpha Company, 2 Commando Regiment, practise fast-roping drills from a Black Hawk
helicopter of the 171st Aviation Squadron. CPL Chris Moore/Commonwealth of Australia Below: Black Hawk A25-107 from
the 6th Aviation Regiment conducts training at Newcastle, New South Wales, in November 2015. The S-70A-9 is now
the second oldest platform in the Australian Army Aviation Corps fleet. CPL Mark Friend/Commonwealth of Australia