Reviving Australia's decommissioned MRH‑90 Taipans: Retired soldiers and engineers volunteer for Ukraine
"With the combined efforts of the Australian community, we could save these helicopters that are incredibly valuable to a country that desperately needs military equipment to strengthen its capabilities," Chris Moore, a former soldier, said, as quoted by Australian media.
Australia's scrapping of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters
In recent weeks, there's been considerable interest in the potential transfer of the MRH-90 Taipan to Ukraine. Australian authorities argue that these helicopters are in dismal technical condition, and the request from Ukrainians to acquire them was made too late. However, the Ukrainians refute this and suggest there's been a misunderstanding among some diplomats. Australian authorities find themselves being criticised by some former military personnel, analysts, journalists, and observers of the war in Ukraine.
Various sources, including ABC NEWS, have reported on some individuals' willingness to voluntarily help rebuild the decommissioned MRH-90 Taipan fleet. Quotes from former soldiers and engineers have been included. For instance, Stuart Mooney, a former Airbus technical support employee, expressed he would willingly offer his services for free to reassemble the MRH-90 for Ukraine, provided the government reconsidered their decision to scrap them.
The outlet indicates that those familiar with the dismantling process believe that a small number of MRH-90s could still be salvaged and restored to flying condition. Simultaneously, many of these helicopters have reportedly been dismantled to such an extent that repairs are impossible.
Understanding the MRH-90 Taipan
Australian authorities made a decision to dismantle 45 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, citing safety and operational issues as the main reasons. A crash that occurred in late July 2023 is often brought up for discussion. An MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed during a drill, resulting in the death of the four Australian soldiers on board.
The MRH-90 Taipan is a versatile helicopter, an Australian edition of the European NH90. It's equipped with two engines (either a Rolls-Royce Turboméca RTM322-01/9 or a General Electric T700/T6E1) with an overall power exceeding 4,000 horsepower. The helicopter weighs 6,400 kilograms, and its interior can hold two pilots and up to 20 passengers.
An optimally-operating MRH-90 Taipan can achieve a top speed of approximately 300 km/h and ascend to 6,000 metres. Its standard armament includes a 7.62 mm machine gun, but the helicopter can also be equipped with air-to-ground rockets and anti-ship missiles.
