Taipan Strike

The ANAO’s damning report into MRH 90

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has released a scathing report into the acquisition and service introduction of the ADF’s NHI/Australian Aerospace MRH 90 helicopter which was acquired under Project AIR 9000 Phases 2, 4 & 6.

The acquisition of the MRH 90 for all three phases of the project – to acquire an additional squadron of helicopters under Phase 2, and to acquire additional machines to replace the Army’s S-70A-9 Black Hawks in service under Phase 4 and Navy’s Sea Kings Mk50s under Phase 6 – was a key component of the ADF’s Helicopter Strategic Master Plan which sought to reduce the number of helicopter types in ADF service from nine to five, and thus realise greater training, support and sustainment efficiencies.