29-7-2023 (SYDNEY) Australia has suspended a major military exercise with the United States after a defence helicopter participating in the drills crashed into the Pacific Ocean, leaving four aircrew members missing.
The incident involved an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, which went down late Friday night in sub-tropical waters near Hamilton Island, Queensland. The aircraft was taking part in the Talisman Sabre exercise, a vast multinational military training event featuring 30,000 personnel from Australia, the United States, and several other nations.
Defence Minister Richard Marles reported that, as of now, the search for the four aircrew members continues, with hopes of locating them as soon as possible. All four crew members aboard the helicopter are understood to be Australian.
Marles expressed his concern for the aircrew and their families, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to find them and the desire for positive news during the day.
The cause of the incident has not been disclosed yet, and investigations will likely take place to determine the factors leading to the crash.
The Talisman Sabre exercise, known for testing large-scale logistics, land combat, amphibious landings, and air operations, serves as a demonstration of the strength of Western military alliances. Besides Australia and the US, Japan, France, Germany, and South Korea are also participating.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are currently in Australia for meetings coinciding with the military drills. Both officials extended their support, and US personnel are assisting in the rescue efforts.
Accidents such as this highlight the importance of rigorous training and preparedness to safeguard lives during military operations.
The incident comes at a time when Australia is undergoing a significant revamp of its armed forces, with a focus on long-range strike capabilities to deter potential adversaries, including China.
Even before the crash, Australia had announced plans to replace its ageing Taipan helicopters with US-made Black Hawks. The European-made Taipans have faced issues with maintenance and obtaining spare parts, leading to multiple instances of grounding.
In January of this year, Marles mentioned the challenge of achieving sufficient flying hours with the Taipan fleet and expressed confidence in obtaining better performance from the Black Hawks.
In March, another MRH-90 Taipan experienced engine failure during a nighttime training exercise near Sydney, resulting in a safe ocean ditching by the crew. However, the entire Taipan fleet was grounded for a month following the incident.
