Australia to retire Taipan helicopter fleet early after crash

Australia said on Friday it would retire its fleet of Taipan helicopters earlier than expected after a crash off its east coast in July during a joint military exercise with the United States that killed four Australian aircrew. The Taipan fleet will not return to flying operations before the previously planned withdrawal date of December 2024, said Defence Minister Richard Marles, as the government pushes ahead to deploy its new Black Hawk helicopter fleet. Australia in January said it would buy 40 Black Hawk military helicopters, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, for an estimated A$2.8 billion ($1.80 billion).