MRH-90 Taipan

The MRH-90 Taipan was a version of the NHI Industries NH90 multirole helicopter in service with the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy in the early 21st century. It entered service in December 2007, and was withdrawn from service in 2022 by the Navy and in 2023 by the Army. Most of the aircraft were assembled in Australia. The fleet was originally scheduled for retirement in 2037. After the aircraft's withdrawal, they were offered for sale then disassembled for parts which is ongoing as of 2024.

A total of 47 helicopters were acquired, primarily operated by the Army with 40 in service with 12 of those made special operations capable. High-maintenance costs and several groundings lead to their retirement date being brought forward to 2024. After an Army airframe was lost in 2023 the Army MRH-90s were withdrawn from service a year earlier in September 2023. The Navy operated 6 MRH-90s for support and logistics including from the Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), which were withdrawn from service in 2022, a year earlier then the Army. With no buyers, the fleet ended up in storage with major components being sold for parts to other operators, and the airframes destined to be buried.^[1]

The MRH-90 was one of many helicopters types operated by the Australian Defence Force during this period, including various types of multi-role helicopters. The MRH-90 supplemented and eventually replaced the then in-service Sikorsky Black Hawk and Westland Sea King helicopters in the early 2000s.