By Andrew Brown in Canberra

A dozen Black Hawk helicopters will be rolled out by the Australian Defence Force to be used as part of emergency and counter-terrorism operations.

Following testing and training, 12 UH-M60M Black Hawks have joined the defence force’s fleets, with a further seven to be added by the end off the year.

The Black Hawks, which were fast-tracked from the United States, were brought in to replace the problem-ridden MRH-90 Taipan helicopters.

The Taipans were pulled from service more than a year early in 2023 following a crash off the Queensland coast which killed four people on board during military drills.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the acquisition of the Black Hawks and testing was one of the fastest in history of the Australian Defence Force.

“These helicopters will contribute to the security of our nation and help keep Australians safe,” he said.

“This capability is yet another indication of the strength of our alliance with the United States and their support for increasing our capability and delivering an integrated, focused force.”

The Black Hawks will operate out of bases in Oakey in Queensland and Holsworthy in NSW.

As part of its role, the helicopters will be involved in domestic emergencies as well as providing support to overseas allies in the Indo-Pacific.

It is also expected the Black Hawks will be able to support counter-terrorism operations in Australia.

Defence Industry Ministry Pat Conroy said the helicopters would be a critical asset to the ADF.

“The acquisition of these Black Hawks is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams across defence and industry who have worked tirelessly to bring this capability into service,” he said.

There will be 40 Black Hawks in the Australian fleet by 2030.

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