New Australian Naval Combat Helicopters

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Australian Government had approved the acquisition of 24 MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopters at a cost of over $3 billion.

The 2009 Defence White Paper committed the Government to equipping naval warships with a new combat helicopter capable of conducting a range of maritime misions with advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities and the ability to fire air-to-surface missiles.

This announcement delivers on that commitment.

The new helicopters will replace the Navy’s current combat helicopter capability provided by 16 Seahawk S-70B-2 helicopters and will also provide the air to surface strike capability which was to have been provided by the cancelled Seasprite program.

This decision follows a 15-month competitive acquisition process involving the Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin built MH-60R and the NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 NFH assembled by Australian Aerospace.

This competitive process has ensured value for money for the tax payer.

The Australian Government has chosen the ‘Romeo’ helicopter because it represents the best value for money for taxpayers and was the lowest risk option.

Russia Delivers Two Combat Helicopters

Russia has delivered two Mi-35P Hind E attack helicopters to Peru under a contract to provide the South American country with air power to combat cocaine production and terrorism.

The disassembled helicopters were delivered to Peru on board a Russian An-124-100 Condor transport plane.

"The assembly of the helicopters by Russian technicians has already begun," Igor Korotchenko, the head of Russia's Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, said on Tuesday.

"The helicopters will be tested in the air in the next few days before the official transfer to the Peruvian Air Force," he said.

The Mi-35 is an improved export version of the famed Mi-24 attack helicopter, which combines high fire power with troop transport capability.

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Peruvian Defense Ministry signed a $108-million contract on the delivery of six Mi-171 Hip H multirole helicopters and two Mi-35 helicopters in July 2010.

The delivery of the first two Mi-171s to Peru is expected in May.

The helicopters will be used in anti-drug and anti-terrorism efforts in the valley of the Apurimac and Ene rivers.

The area was declared a zone of military operations in August 2009 as fighting between government troops and the Sendero Luminoso Maoist guerilla group intensified.

Sendero Luminoso, regarded by Peru as a terrorist organization, is believed to have strong ties with drug traffickers. The group is on the U.S. and EU lists of terrorist organizations.

Hightec helicopters