Days After Fatal MRH-90 Helicopter Crash, Australian Army Receives First UH-60M Black Hawk

The Australian Army has taken delivery of the first UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, days after one of its old MRH-90 Taipan aircraft crashed.

As per reports, first two UH-60Ms arrived at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Richmond on July 30 via a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17. A third UH-60M arrived on August 4.

On July 28, four crew members were killed after a MRH-90 went down during a multinational military exercise.

Australia signed a $1.95 billion contract for acquisition of 40 Black Hawks and related equipment under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) in January.

U.S.-made Black Hawks were bought to replace European-made Taipan choppers that have been grounded on multiple occasions over maintenance and safety issues. The fleet was pulled from the skies as recently as in March after an engine failure in one of the helicopters forced the crew to ditch into the sea off the coast of New South Wales.