Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

Australia pays to maintain trouble-plagued Taipan helicopters no longer being used by navy

An Australian MRH-90 Taipan helicopter
Seven of Australia’s 47 Taipan helicopters have been moved to a facility in Brisbane where they are being maintained ‘to preserve the value of the asset’. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

The Australian government is paying to maintain seven trouble-plagued Taipan helicopters in a Brisbane warehouse after the navy ceased using them.

Officials have defended the cost of this work, saying it would ensure the parts still have resale value once the government decides whether to dump the fleet entirely.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.