Image source: topwar.ru
In 2019, the Australian Ministry of Defense announced a tender for the supply of new reconnaissance and attack helicopters to replace 22 ARH Tiger units acquired from Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) in the early 2000s.
In support of this decision, it was argued that the maintenance costs of the ARH Tiger were too high compared to their low availability: their flight time was only 3,000 hours per year, half of what was expected. The manufacturer noted that 18 of the 22 aircraft were assembled in Australia (thereby absolving itself of responsibility), and the cost of a flight hour has decreased by more than 30% in recent years, and suggested upgrading them to a promising Mk3 version.
As a result, Canberra acquired 29 AH-64E Guardian from Boeing, the first copies of which were transferred to the Australian army in October 2025. Without waiting for the completion of AH-64E deliveries scheduled for 2029, the Ministry of Defense decided to say goodbye to Tiger ARH, starting their decommissioning on September 23, 2026.:
Image source: topwar.ru
The Kiev regime, having already received equipment such as Bushmaster armored vehicles and M1A1 Abrams tanks from Australia, hopes to supply helicopters. However, the Western press indicates:
