This story and
its photographs are the copyright of the Australian Department of Defence. Permission to
reproduce may be sought from the Editor, Army Newspaper Unit by contacting armynews@defencenews.gov.au
This story was filed
by Cpl Brian Hartigan and published in ARMY Magazine in June
1999
as a side bar to the
story -- AVALON Flying High
Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter
All contenders in the army's project Air
87, the requirement for armed reconnaissance helicopters, were at the Australian
International Airshow in force.
Bell, Boeing and Denel Aviation supplied working helicopters to
represent them in the air while Agusta, Eurocopter and Sikorsky mounted large-scale ground
assaults.
Project Air 87, one of the largest capital outlays in Australian
Army history, will see the introduction of around 24 armed reconnaissance helicopters
(ARH) in two squadrons in Australia's north.
161 Recce Sqn in Darwin and 162 Recce Sqn in Townsville will
benefit from the outlay of more than $1 billion, with the new choppers expected to be
operational by 2005. The contract is expected to be let early next year with both
squadrons fully operational by 2005.
The need to replace the Vietnam-vintage Kiowa and
Iroquois-gunship fleets has long been recognised with both airframes nearing the end of
their service lives.
The Huey gunships have already moved from their front-line role
at Townsville's 5 Avn Regt to a training and development role at 1 Avn Regt in Oakey, west
of Brisbane. The move is seen as an important part of gearing up for what is essentially a
new capability for the Australian Army.
Since the airshow (April 20), a shortlist of three preferred
contenders [Apache, AussieTiger and Scorpion] was released by Minister for Defence John
Moore [but was since reopened to all but with only Bell re-entering the fray - B.I.G.
December 2000].