Canberra: Australia, the Australian military said on Friday, he planned to dispose of the Taipan helicopter fleet designed with Europe and vice versa bought US Black Hawks and Seahawks because American machines were more reliable.
This step came less than three months after Australia canceled an agreement to buy a French submarine supporting building a nuclear-powered submarine that uses US and British technology in a very angry French switch.
Australia has 47 Taipan helicopters designed by Airbus and should last up to 2037 but has been disturbed by the foundation.
Australia will stop using it and buy a helicopter designed by Lockheed Martin in a switch that will cost 7 billion Australian dollars ($ 4.8 billion).
Scott Morrison’s Prime Minister said Australia increased his defense capabilities and had built a good partnership, especially with the US.
“Taipans don’t meet their scars.
Simple like that,” Morrison said.
“And we want to make sure that our defense forces have the best equipment to defend this country, and Black Hawks will give it.” Defense Minister Peter Dutton said that the black Hawks were much cheaper to fly and that officials had concerns about the tycoon program over the past decade.
“There are nine examples where it is not suitable to fly, and I will not put our people in that position,” Dutton said.
He said the new helicopter would bring a fleet of Australia more in line with the US, consideration of important considering instability in the region.
China had previously stated anger over the Australian submarine switch and said irresponsible from the US and Britain to export their nuclear technology.
Opposition politicians say the Australian government has wasted billions of dollars on poor decisions in many defense contracts.