Original title: Australia plans to spend 1.3 billion Australian dollars to buy US-made helicopters was approved and wasted
Overseas Network, October 9th The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Abc) reported on the 9th that the Australian Navy helicopter fleet will abandon the European-made MRH90 large-scale model and switch to the US-made Seahawk helicopter. This arms sales transaction has also been accused of highlighting Australia’s poor defense management.
According to reports, early in 2021, the Australian Defence Force grounded all 47 large-scale helicopters in active service in the Navy and Army. Since the MRH90 model entered service in 2006, there have been many technical problems. For example, the door is too narrow to affect the firing. The Australian army has recently had to rent temporary helicopters for training and non-combat transportation tasks.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency recently revealed that it has approved the sale of 12 “Seahawk” helicopters and related defense equipment to Australia to replace the Australian Navy’s 6 Airbus-made MRH90 large class helicopters. The transaction is worth 1.3 billion Australian dollars.
Pat Conroy, assistant to Australia’s shadow defense secretary, believes that this arms sales transaction highlights the mismanagement of Australia’s defense and wastes taxpayers’ money. “The Australian government once spent AU$3.7 billion to purchase the MRH90 large-class helicopter, and now it is causing taxpayers to lose $1.3 billion.” As of now, the Australian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the arms sales. (Overseas Net Zhang Qi)
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