Robert Dougherty

The light aircraft, registered as VH-TKK, was diverted to RAAF Base Tindal after a total electrical failure and came within close proximity of two military aircraft on final approach using the same runway.

Senator Malcolm Roberts levelled the allegations in the Senate on 1 September, regarding documents reportedly sourced from a Comcare investigation into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash in 2023.

Jim Jefferies described the fatal crash and grounding of the ADF fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters as “terrible”, “intentionally-drawn out” and a “government cover-up”, while appearing on the ‘This Past Weekend’ podcast with American comedian Theo Von in late August.

The C-27J Spartan mobility aircraft has participated in every iteration of Operation Solania in 2025, providing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability to scour the large maritime area for vessels conducting illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing.

Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters confirmed the investment decisions of $2.7 billion, with the MH-60R Seahawk the preferred option to replace the existing maritime helicopters. The Airbus A321XLR aircraft will replace the ageing 757 fleet.

The aircraft previously completed testing earlier this year, in which a single human operator onboard a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail was able to successfully control two Ghost Bats in a mission against airborne targets.