Australia's army chief, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, announced that the country's military will suspend the operations of its MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet.

This decision comes after a crash that occurred during joint wargames on Friday between the US and Australia, off the Whitsunday Islands in Australia's subtropical northeast.

The accident led to four crew members being reported missing, and despite efforts by the militaries of three nations, the chances of finding them alive are diminishing. Consequently, all approximately 45 Taipan helicopters in Australia's fleet will be taken out of service until further notice.

"We are not flying the MRH-90 today and won't until we think it is safe to do so," Stuart told reporters in Sydney.  

Even prior to the recent incident, the Australian government had already announced its intention to replace the aging MRH-90 Taipan helicopters with Black Hawk helicopters manufactured in the United States. The decision to switch helicopters was influenced by ongoing issues with the European-made Taipans, including difficulties in maintenance and acquiring spare parts, which frequently led to their grounding.

While the plan was to continue using the Taipans until 2024, the recent crash during the multinational military exercises has raised concerns and could potentially impact the timeline. Lieutenant General Simon Stuart expressed uncertainty about what will happen between now and 2024, as the investigation into the crash will likely provide valuable insights that could influence their decisions.

On Friday night, an aircraft involved in the Talisman Sabre exercise, which involves 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the United States, and various other nations, crashed near the Whitsunday Islands. Following the incident, authorities have launched an extensive search effort, including the involvement of specialist divers, to locate the missing pilot and three other crew members.

Debris from the crashed aircraft was retrieved on Saturday, and footage from Channel 9 television displayed a section of the fuselage being lifted from the water. Lieutenant General Stuart confirmed the identities of the four missing crew members, all belonging to the 6th Aviation Regiment based in Sydney.

"You have to feel for their families and their mates," he said.  

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