Question About Price Chopper Delivery

The recent decision by the Australian government to replace its fleet of Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) and Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) with new Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and UH-60M Blackhawks has raised many questions. While some have been quick to blame Airbus Helicopters, the manufacturer of these helicopters, for the problems experienced by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), a closer examination of the issue reveals that there may be more to the story.

Despite efforts to uncover the truth about the difficulties faced by the ADF in keeping its ARH and MRH fleets flying, information has been scarce. Many retired Army staff members who have knowledge about the situation remain loyal to their former service and are unwilling to go on record with their findings. Furthermore, attempts to obtain detailed information from Defence officials have proven fruitless.

The recent Senate Estimates hearings provided only fragmented and disconnected data, which did little to shed light on the issue. It is clear that a thorough investigation was needed several years ago, when the problems were first starting to manifest, in order to prevent the series of decisions that led to the purchase of new helicopters.

Airbus Helicopters has not publicly defended its products against the criticism it has faced, which may be due to management fatigue or a focus on other projects. Meanwhile, politicians and large sections of the media have been quick to jump on the bandwagon, perpetuating the myth that the ARH and MRH fleets are unreliable.

However, a closer examination of the issue reveals that this may not be entirely accurate. While it is true that spare parts shortages have been a problem for the ADF, this is not the primary cause of the difficulties faced by the helicopters. Instead, the Defence/Combat Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) support process has been identified as the major culprit.

At the heart of the issue is a software package called CAMM2, which has been criticized for its inadequacies. The repeated vitriol directed at the MRH and ARH fleets over more than a decade has created a false impression that they are unreliable, when in fact this may not be the case.

The ADF's decision to retire the ARH and MRH fleets and replace them with new helicopters is expected to cost billions of dollars. The purchase of 29 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and 40 UH-60M Blackhawks will come at a total cost of $10 billion, in addition to the $1.4 billion already spent on 12 MH-60R Seahawks.

It is worth noting that all three helicopter fleets have plenty of structural life remaining, and it may be argued that replacing them so soon is unnecessary. The fact remains that other countries have not experienced the same level of difficulty as Australia in keeping their helicopters flying.

In conclusion, the decision to replace the ARH and MRH fleets with new helicopters raises many questions about the true nature of the problems faced by the ADF. While Airbus Helicopters may be a convenient scapegoat, it is clear that there are deeper issues at play. The Defence/Combat Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) support process, including the software package CAMM2, must be examined in order to ensure that the ADF's helicopter fleets are properly maintained and supported.

Question about price chopper delivery