Reader comments - ADF Helicopter Strategic Master Plan: strategic failure

Yes, the ADF helicopter force structure is a disaster.

Yet, a fix isn't that difficult.

From our reader Bushranger.

Bushranger 71

Upgrade of UH-1H Iroquois to virtual as new Huey II costs about $2million per airframe; ergo, the whole ADF fleet of 25 Iroquois could have been enhanced for just the cost of one MRH90. Add those 25 to 34 Blackhawks (which also need upgrade to a common modification standard) and there could have been a very capable utility helo force.

The Tiger is a superfluous luxury as both Iroquois and Blackhawk are easily adaptable for gunship functions, adequate for Australian regional military operations.

The Kiowa, which was extensively used in Iraq and Afghanistan for recce and armed scout roles, is also cost-effectively upgradable.

The so-called ADF Helicopter Strategic Master Plan is clearly an abject failure that continues to waste billions of taxpayer dollars while diminishing military capacity.
The defence planners in Canberra seem only interested in throwing more money to the major arms manufacturers, regardless of the military worth of their products.

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