Follow-on Chinook purchase on cards for intra-theatre lift
The Australian government is to consider a purchase of additional Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters as part of a cabinet submission being prepared by its Department of Defence.
The Chinook purchase is among several options to be put forward to meet a long-standing battlefield intra-theatre airlift requirement, which will also include recommendations on the future of the Royal Australian Air Force’s de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribous.
A related submission may seek approval to replace the navy’s Westland Sea King 50 helicopters as part of a requirement to upgrade or replace the army’s Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawks with NH Industries MRH90s.
The proposals are being put forward as part of budget plans for Australia’s 2006-7 financial year, with initial approvals to be announced on 9 May. They will also play a major role in reshaping the DoD’s 10-year capability plan, a new version of which is due for release around mid-year.
“The future fleet size for the Chinook will be considered in the context of the whole battlefield intra-theatre lift issue,” Rear Adm Matt Tripovich, head of capability systems division in the Australian defence headquarters’ capability development group, told the Helicopter Association of Australia’s Rotortech 2006 conference in Sydney on 30 January. The army’s current six CH-47Ds remain central to plans to rationalise Canberra’s rotary-wing fleet under a rethink of its Air 9000 programme, he says.
A government-commissioned joint helicopter management study to be completed this month will “determine an agreed consensus between the three services on the future of Australian Defence Force rotary-wing capability [and] report on opportunities to jointly acquire and manage Air 9000 helicopters”, says Tripovich. The report will be assessed by senior Australian defence planning committees in March-April.
The proposed linking of the Black Hawk and Sea King replacements comes as the head of Australia’s newly formed special forces aviation detachment confirms that its future fleet of 12 Black Hawks are being considered for modification.
“If we weren’t able to do that we would perhaps be missing opportunities to deliver to the special operations command units,” says 171 Aviation Squadron commanding officer Lt Col Steve Clynk. Australia’s Chinooks and MRH90s could also be updated as the unit’s capabilities mature.
PETER LA FRANCHI / SYDNEY
Source: Flight International
