List of Australian Army aircraft

Short description: None

A Tiger helicopter A S-70 Blackhawk (left) and CH-47 Chinook (right)

List of Australian Army aircraft is a list of all aircraft operated by the Australian Army since its formation. The Army flies helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and also unmanned aerial vehicles of various types. The Army has a diverse portfolio of lift assets including fleet of latest Chinook helicopters, 22 Tiger attack helicopters, 15 EC135 (which it shares with Navy for training), and increasing numbers UH-60. A few other types, such as leased AW139 and Bell 412 are also used. The MRH-90 fleet which was a major asset for over a dozen years was fully retired in 2023 and are in storage, and the last of the S-70 were retired in 2021. Additional UH-60 and EC135 are being acquired in the 2020s.

The MRH-90 retirement is handled in several ways, prior to retirement additional Chinooks were acquired, and prior to and after additional AW139, Bell 412, UH-60, and EC135 were ordered or leased. The Navy and Air Force have their own aircraft, and the Navy uses SH-60 Sea Hawk and ordered more.

## Contents

* 1 Current
* 1.1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
* 2 Historic & Current
* 2.1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
* 2.2 Fixed Wing Aircraft
* 2.3 Helicopters
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes
* 5 References

## Current

Aircraft  | Origin  | Role  | Versions  | Year introduced  | No. in service[1] | Notes

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Boeing AH-64E Apache  |  United States  | Attack helicopter  | AH-64E Guardian  | 2025  | 2 (+ 27 on order)  | 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardians were ordered for the Army in 2021 to replace the Tiger ARH.[2][3] As of September 2025, 2 Apache Guardians have been delivered.[4] The Army is expected to receive all Apache aircraft by 2029.[4]
Boeing CH-47 Chinook  |  United States  | Transport helicopter  | CH-47F  |  | 14[5] |

Main article: Boeing CH-47 Chinook in Australian service

One CH-47D was destroyed during operations in Afghanistan on 30 May 2011.[6] Two additional CH-47Ds ordered in December 2011 as attrition replacement and to boost heavy lift capability.[7] The last of 7 new CH-47Fs was delivered in September 2015 and the D models subsequently retired.[8]
Eurocopter Tiger |  Europe  | Armed reconnaissance helicopter  | Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH)  | 2004  | 22[5] | The Tiger ARH is to be replaced by the AH-64E Apache.
Sikorski UH-60M Blackhawk  |  United States  | Utility helicopter  | UH-60M Blackhawk  | 2023  | 10 (+ 30 on order)[5] | After reliability issues with the MRH90, in 2021 the ADF announced they would replace the MRH90 fleet with 40 UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters, announced the same year as the previous S-70A-9 Blackhawks were retired from service. The first 3 were delivered in 2023 after the grounding and subsequent retirement of the MRH90 fleet. The US announced an accelerated delivery timeline on the remaining 37 Blackhawks to help Australia replace the MRH90 fleet.[9]

* 5 AW139 leased to the Army.[10]
* 2 Bell 412 under lease at Army Aviation Training Center.[11]
* 15[5] EC135 are shared with the Navy for training, but also intended for disaster relief in emergency.

Leaving service
Aircraft  | Origin  | Role  | Versions  | Year introduced  | No. in service[1] | Notes

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NHIndustries NH90 |  Europe  | Utility helicopter  | MRH90 – TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter  | 2007

(retired 2023)

| 39 (40 original. 1 destroyed in crash)  | The MRH-90 Taipan fleet was prematurely retired in September 2023, after a fatal crash of an MRH90 in Northern Queensland Pacific Ocean killing 4 servicemembers.[12][13] Previously in March 2023 an engine failure lead to an MRH90 ditching in the ocean off Jervis Bay.[14][15] Currently being dismantled for parts (Circa 2024)

### Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Aircraft  | Origin  | Role  | Versions  | Year introduced  | No. In service  | Notes

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AeroVironment Wasp AE  |  United States  | SUAS – Reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance  | Wasp EA  | 2018  | undisclosed | Wasp entered service in 2014 for test and evaluation. the Wasp AE entered service with the Australian Army in 2018.[16]
Black Hornet Nano |  Norway  | MicroUAS Squad Level Reconnaissance and surveillance  | PD-1000 Black Hornet  | 2014  | undisclosed | The Black Hornet entered service in 2014 for test and evaluation.
AAI RQ-7 Shadow |  United States  | Tactical UAS Reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance  | RQ-7B Shadow 2000 UAV  | 2012  | 18  | 18 aircraft. The Shadow 200 entered service in 2012 replacing the ScanEagle. Operated by the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

## Historic & Current

### Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Aircraft type  | Origin  | Variant  | Role  | Years In service  | Notes

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A50 AAI Aerosonde | Australia | Aerosonde Mk 2 | Surveillance | 2003 | Four aircraft. Deployed to the Solomon Islands during Operation Anode in 2003. Operated by the 131st surveillance and Target Acquisition Battery.
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle | United States |  | Reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance | – 2012 | Obsolete, No longer operated by the Australian Army. Operated by the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
Elbit Systems Skylark | Israel | Skylark I | Reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance |  | Obsolete, no longer in service with the Australian Army. Replaced by the Wasp EA.
Phantom (unmanned aerial vehicle series) | China | Phantom 4 | Reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance | 2017– | 350 aircraft

### Fixed Wing Aircraft

Aircraft type  | Origin  | Variant  | Role  | Service period  | Notes

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A11 Auster Mark III | United Kingdom | Mk III
MK V
AOP.6 | Two-seat air observation post aircraft | 1944–1959 | 58 aircraft. Operated by the RAAF in support of the Australian Army.
A98 Cessna 180 | United States | Model 180A
Model 180D
Model 180E | Two to four seat liaison, observation aircraft | 1959–1975 | 19 aircraft
A14 Pilatus PC-6B Turbo-Porter | Switzerland | PC-6B Turbo Porter | Eight-seat reconnaissance, light transport aircraft | 1968–1992 | 19 aircraft
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog | United States | O-1 Bird Dog | One or two-seat liaison, observation aircraft | 1967–1968 | Three aircraft on loan from the US Army. Operated by the 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight (Australia)
Beechcraft Queen Air | United States | A65 Queen Air
B70 Queen Air |  | 1971–19?? | Four aircraft. Operated by the Australian Army Survey corps
A18 GAF Nomad | Australia | Nomad N22B
Nomad N24A | Two-crew twin-engine utility transport, reconnaissance aircraft, capable of carrying 11 passengers | 1975–1995 | 22 aircraft
A32 Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | King Air B350 | Twin-engine utility transport aircraft | 1997-2009[17] | 24 aircraft. Including leased civilian aircraft. 4 owned aircraft given to the RAAF in 2009.
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante | Brazil | EMB 100P1 Bandeirante |  | 1995 only | Four aircraft were leased from Flight West. Operated by the 173rd Aviation Squadron (Australia)
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | Canada | DHC-6-320 Twin Otter |  | 1996–2004 | Three aircraft were leased from Hawker Pacific 1996. Operated by the 173rd Aviation Squadron (Australia)
CASA C-212 Aviocar | Spain | C-212-400 |  | 2007-current | Two aircraft leased from Skytraders since 2013 with two 212-200 formerly leased from Military Support Services.[18][19] Operated by the Australian Defence Force Parachuting School.[18]

### Helicopters

An Australian Army UH-1 Iroquois helicopter on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Historic and also current for context

Aircraft type  | Origin  | Variant  | Role  | Service period  | Notes

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A22 Aerospatiale AS.350B Squirrel | France | AS.350B Squirrel | Two-crew light utility, training helicopter | 1990–1998 | 18 helicopters. Operated by the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School
A1 Bell 47 Sioux | United States | Model 47G-2 Sioux
Model 47G-2A Sioux
Model 47G-3B1 Sioux | Three-seat light utility, training helicopter | 1960–1977 | 47 helicopters
A17 Bell / CAC CA-32, OH-58A Kiowa | United States
Australia | CAC CA-32, OH-58A Kiowa
Model 206B-1 Kiowa
| Light observation, reconnaissance helicopter | 1971–2018 | 64 helicopters. Including eight US built helicopters, which were leased to the Australian Army.
A2 Bell UH-1 Iroquois | United States | UH-1H Iroquois | Multi-role utility transport helicopter | 1990–2007 | 25 helicopters. Transferred from the RAAF to the Australian Army in 1990
A17 Boeing CH-47 Chinook | United States | CH-47D Chinook
CH-47F Chinook | Twin-rotor medium-lift transport helicopter | 1995-current | 18 helicopters
A25 Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk | United States | S-70A-9 Black Hawk | Four-crew multi-role battlefield support helicopter, capable of carrying 10 troops | 1990-2021 | 39 helicopters. Transferred from the RAAF to the Australian Army.
A38 Eurocopter Tiger | Europe | Tiger ARH | Armed reconnaissance, attack helicopter | 2004-current | 22 helicopters
A40 NHIndustries NH90 | Europe | TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter | Utility transport helicopter | 2007-2023 | 40 helicopters
Bell 412 | United States
Canada | Bell 412
|  | 2007-current | Two helicopters. Operated by the Army Aviation Training Centre[20]

## See also

* List of equipment of the Australian Army
* List of Australian military equipment of World War II
* Historical weaponry of the Australian Army
* List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force
* List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 15 January 2007.
2. ↑ Minister for Defence Senator Linda Reynolds (15 January 2021). "Future ready - strengthening Army's armed reconnaissance capability". Department of Defence Ministers (Press release). Retrieved 12 March 2021.
3. ↑ Prime Minister Scott Morrison; Minister for Defence Peter Dutton; Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price (9 May 2022). "Securing our national security and local defence jobs and skills". Liberal Party of Australia (Press release). Archived from the original on 9 May 2022.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minister for Defence Richard Marles; Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy (2 October 2025). "New era of attack aviation arrives in Townsville". Department of Defence Ministers (Press release). Australian Government. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Hoyle, Craig (2024). "World Air Forces 2025". FlightGlobal. https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=106507.
6. ↑ "Australian Chinook crashes in Afghanistan". Australian Aviation. 1 June 2011. http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/06/chinook-down-in-afghanistan/.
7. ↑ "Defence to buy two more Chinook choppers". ninemsn. 12 December 2011. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8388523/defence-to-buy-2-more-chinooks.
8. ↑ "Australian Army receives final CH-47F Chinook". Australian Aviation. 10 September 2015. http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/09/australian-army-receives-final-ch-47f-chinook/.
9. ↑ "Black Hawks delivery to Australian shores accelerated" (in en-AU). ABC News. 2023-11-01. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-01/black-hawks-delivery-from-us-accelerated/102619032.
10. ↑ Editorial, Defense Brief (2023-03-01). "Private company buys 2 more AW139 helos for lease to Australian Army" (in en-US). https://defbrief.com/2023/03/01/private-company-buys-2-more-aw139-helos-for-lease-to-australian-army/.
11. ↑ "Toll Helicopters pitches WOG-RW solution - Australian Defence Magazine" (in en). https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/joint/toll-helicopters-pitches-wog-rw-solution.
12. ↑ "Four missing crew members identified as search continues for military helicopter" (in en). https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/four-missing-crew-members-identified-as-search-continues-for-military-helicopter/uivotpoaf.
13. ↑ "Australia grounds MRH-90 helicopter fleet after crash" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2023-07-30. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-66352770.
14. ↑ "'Big explosion', burst of fire before ADF chopper 'sunk down' in NSW, fisherman says" (in en-AU). ABC News. 2023-03-22. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-23/australian-defence-force-helicopter-incident-jervis-bay/102132762.
15. ↑ "Australia's MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet is back flying after 'risk mitigation' following Jervis Bay ditching" (in en-AU). ABC News. 2023-04-07. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-07/mrh90-taipan-helicopters-flying-after-jervis-bay-ditching/102201316.
16. ↑ Hartigan, Brian (2017-06-01). "ADF buys Wasp UAS" (in en-US). https://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2017/06/01/adf-buys-wasp/.
17. ↑ "Army seeks to lease fixed-wing aircraft - Australian Defence Magazine" (in en). https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/land/army-seeks-to-lease-fixed-wing-aircraft.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Defence". https://skytraders.com.au/defence/.
19. ↑ "Army Constructiones Aeronauticas S A CASA 212 Aviocar". 26 January 2014. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/casa212.htm.
20. ↑ "Toll Helicopters pitches WOG-RW solution - Australian Defence Magazine" (in en). https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/joint/toll-helicopters-pitches-wog-rw-solution.

## References

* Leoni, Ray D. (2007). Black Hawk, The Story of a World Class Helicopter. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-56347-918-2.

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