Taipans held in highest esteem
Tess Ikonomou
ARMY Aviation units continue to soar to new heights after successful participation in exercises Sea Explorer, Sea Raider and Talisman Sabre.
Comd 16 Avn Bde Brig Stephen Jobson said the ADF raised its first ever aviation combat element this year during the Sea Series exercises.
“The ACE consisted of a detachment of MRH90S, CH-47FS and ARH Tigers working under HQ 5 Avn Regt,” he said.
“It was an aviation battlegroup-sized organisation; it operated from both the LHDS, HMA ships Canberra and Adelaide, and it performed an extensive range of missions including lift, attacks, reconnaissance and security missions for the amphibious task group.
“This has been a decade in the making and through the creation of this modernised and future-focused combat force, we now have a capability few nations in the world possess.”
Brig Jobson said 6 Avn Regt performed exceptionally well during Talisman Sabre.
“On Exercise Talisman Sabre, 6 Avn Regt led a coalition special operations aviation task group,” he said.
“This task group included US Navy special operations helicopters, US Marine Corps attack and lift helicopters and US Air Force special operations fixed-wing MC-130 aircraft.
“This group also worked closely with RAAF assets, including C-130JS, C-27JS and other aircraft.
“The Special Operations Aviation Task Group executed long-range missions and provided a suite of mission sets including recovery and direct action. They proved a whole new capability for the ADF in its mission support site ... I am both nostalgic about the Black Hawks, but also very confident about the future.”
Brig Jobson said this was an exceptional outcome for 6 Avn Regt.
“To lead such a large and capable force it once again shows we continue to modernise the Army Aviation capability and continue to create options for the future where the ADF and Australian Government can lead coalitions in our region with such a high-end capability,” he said.
“Looking back on the Black Hawk, in its 30 years it has performed magnificently in the service of Australia in numerous theatres, both domestically and abroad. Today it continues to serve at a very high standard.
“That was no better emphasised than on Exercise Talisman Sabre, where our 6 Avn Regt Black Hawks worked in a multinational coalition special operations task group and executed missions as advanced, complex and sophisticated as they have ever conducted in this series of exercises.
“Seeing what the Taipan can do gives me great confidence we’re on track as an Army Aviation capability and we can continue to deliver the excellence we have for the past 30 years into the next 30 years.”
Brig Jobson said pilots flying the MRH90 Taipan enjoyed a world-class, advanced and sophisticated combat system that had been delivering exceptional outcomes at 5 Avn Regt.
“They are with a combat system that has now deployed on 11 operations in Australia and overseas that has delivered a world-class amphibious capability, which was seen on the Sea Series this year,” he said.
“So there is a lot of confidence and trust and positive thinking around the MRH90 Taipan from those operating it.”
LOOKING BACK ON THE BLACK HAWK, IN ITS 30 YEARS IT HAS PERFORMED MAGNIFICENTLY IN THE SERVICE OF AUSTRALIA IN NUMEROUS THEATRES BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD. TODAY IT CONTINUES TO SERVE AT A VERY HIGH STANDARD.