171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron explained

Unit Name:171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron
Dates:2004–present
Country:Australia
Branch:Australian Army
Role:Special operations aviation
Command Structure:6th Aviation Regiment
Garrison:Holsworthy Barracks
Aircraft Helicopter:UH-60M Black Hawk

The 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron (171 SOAS) is an Australian Army helicopter squadron that provides aviation support to the Special Operations Command. The squadron is being equipped with the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. The squadron is based at Luscombe Airfield, Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney and forms part of the 6th Aviation Regiment as the regiment's sole operational squadron.[1] [2]

Overview

The squadron primarily supports the Tactical Assault Group, troop lift support is also provided to other Special Forces based at Holsworthy and Perth, and to other east coast and southern Australian based units.[3]

In March 1997, the Board of Inquiry into the Black Hawk Training Accident in June 1996 recommended that dedicated Army aviation assets be allocated in support of the counter terrorist and special operations capability and that the units be collocated during training, planning and the conduct of operations.[3]

History

The 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron traces its lineage back to the 161st Reconnaissance Flight which was formed in June 1965 based at RAAF Base Amberley.[4] [5] The Flight was part of the 16th Army Light Aircraft Squadron which in 1967 became the 1st Aviation Regiment.[6] [5] The Flight served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971 and during this period was renamed the 161st (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight.[4] On return from Vietnam, the Flight was based at Oakey.[4] On 31 January 1974, the Flight was re-designated as the "171st Operational Support Squadron" following a restructure of the 1st Aviation Regiment using the number from the disbanded 171st Air Cavalry Flight.[4] [6] [7]

On 19 December 2002, the Prime Minister announced the creation of the Special Operations Command and that the government would accelerate the purchase of the MRH90 Taipan helicopters to enable a squadron of helicopters to be based in Sydney as a potent addition to the Tactical Assault Group East.[8] [9]

On 28 November 2004, 'A' Squadron of the 5th Aviation Regiment based at RAAF Base Townsville swapped designations with the 171st Operational Support Squadron.[10] [11] The squadron was equipped with the Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk with the role of providing support to the Special Operations Command.[11]

The squadron separated from the 1st Aviation Regiment and was placed under the command of the 16th Aviation Brigade as an independent squadron and was re-designated as the "171st Aviation Squadron".[12] [10] The squadron was commanded by a lieutenant colonel in addition to the conventional squadron commander of Major rank.[10]

In July 2005, Holsworthy Barracks was selected as the location in Sydney to relocate the squadron.[13] In December 2006, the squadron relocated to temporary facilities at Luscombe Airfield with the redevelopment of the airfield expected to be completed by late 2008.[14]

The squadron was involved in operations in East Timor as part of Operation Astute.[15] On 29 November 2006, a Squadron Black Hawk helicopter crashed during Operation Quickstep while attached to HMAS Kanimbla off the coast of Fiji.[10] The helicopter's pilot, Captain Mark Bingley, and Trooper Joshua Porter from the Special Air Service Regiment were killed in the crash.[16] [17]

In March 2008, the squadron became part of the newly raised 6th Aviation Regiment following implementation of a recommendation from the Board of Inquiry into the Crash of Black Hawk 221 to raise a regiment.[1] [18] [10]

The squadron has been renamed the "171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron";[19] [20] it has had a new name from at least January 2020.[20]

Aircraft

The squadron is being equipped with the UH-60M Black Hawk. The squadron was equipped with the MRH90 Taipan an Australian variant of the NHI NH90.[21] The 6th Aviation Regiment completed the transition from the S-70A-9 Black Hawk to the MRH90 in December 2021.[21] The regiment was originally planned to have made the transition from the S-70A-9 Black Hawk to the MRH90 by December 2013 when the Black Hawk was scheduled to be retired from service.[22] [23]

The MRH90 program encountered significant problems, and in particular, the NH90 had not been operated in a dedicated special operations role.[22] [23] In December 2015, Jane's Defence Weekly reported that the Chief of Army had delayed the retirement of the Black Hawk until the end of 2021.[24] Twenty Black Hawks were retained with eighteen based at Holsworthy and two at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre in Oakey in order to develop a special operations capable MRH90.[22] This required developing a Fast Roping and Rappelling Extraction System (FRRES) and a gun mount for the cabin door.[22] [23] The Taipan Gun Mount can fit either a M134D minigun or MAG 58 machine gun and when not in use can be moved into a outward stowed position to provide clearance to enable fast roping and rappelling.[25] [26] In February 2019, the first two of twelve MRH90s were delivered to the regiment.[27] [28]

In 2016, the Australian government in the Defence White Paper 2016 announced a plan to acquire light helicopters for the regiment under Project Land 2097 Phase 4 that would fulfil roles that the MRH90 was unable to perform.[29] [30] [31] In March 2023, Australian Defence Magazine reported that the light helicopter project had been cancelled as the UH-60M Black Hawk the Army was acquiring would fulfil this role.[32] In December 2021, on the same day the S70A-9 Black Hawk was retired, the government announced that it would replace the MRH90s with new UH-60M Black Hawks.[33] [34]

In September 2023, the MRH90 fleet was retired earlier than planned following the fatal crash of a 173rd Special Operations Aviation Squadron MRH90 during exercise Talisman Sabre in July 2023.[35] [36] In August 2023, the Army began receiving deliveries of UH-60Ms.[35] [37]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 6th Aviation Regiment. Australian Army. 16 May 2012. 12 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912102027/http://army.gov.au/Our-people/Units/Forces-Command/16th-Aviation-Brigade/6th-Aviation-Regiment. dead.
  2. Pittaway . Nigel . Vigilance . 10 January 2022 . AirForces Monthly. 359 . Key Publishing . 0955-7091. 68. February 2018.
  3. 171st Aviation Squadron Relocation - Holsworthy Barracks NSW - Statement of Evidence to the Parliament Standing Committee on Public Works. Department of Defence. October 2005. 30 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Unit History. 161 Possums. 3 August 2016.
  5. Web site: Australian Army Flying Museum. Army aviation in Australia 1970-2015. Australian Army . February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161008154311/http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20work/Community%20engagement/2015_02_AHQ_ArmyAviation_Factsheet.pdf . 8 October 2016.
  6. Web site: 1 Aviation Regiment . The Australian Army Aviation Association . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090622073338/http://www.fourays.org/aviation_units/1_avn_regt/1_avn_regt.htm . 22 June 2009.
  7. Web site: 1st Aviation Regiment . The Australian Army Aviation Association . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060721171916/http://www.fourays.org/aviation_units/1_avn_regt/1_avn_regt.htm . 21 July 2006 .
  8. Prime Minister John Howard. Expansion of Special Forces Counter Terrorist Capability and new Special Operations Command . Commonwealth of Australia. 19 December 2002 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20030223102647/http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/2002/media_release2043.htm . 23 February 2003 .
  9. News: Foxcroft . Sgt. Sybelle . Need a lift? Army looks to Europe for troop-lift carrier . Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper . 1105 . 9 September 2004 . Department of Defence . Canberra . 0729-5685 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110322045539/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1105/topstories/story01.htm . 22 March 2011 .
  10. Black Hawk 221 Board of Inquiry. Report of the Board of Inquiry into the deaths of Captain Mark Bingley and Trooper Joshua Porter following the loss of Army Black Hawk 221 on 29 November 2006 whilst deployed in HMAS Kanimbla for Operation Quickstep. Department of Defence. 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140709034226/http://defence.gov.au/Publications/COI/reports/bh221_boi_report.pdf . 9 July 2014 . dead.
  11. Web site: 5th Aviation Regiment. Australian Army. 22 April 2014. 4 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160804043901/http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Units/Forces-Command/16th-Aviation-Brigade/5th-Aviation-Regiment. dead.
  12. Web site: 1st Aviation Regiment. Australian Army. 8 March 2012. 8 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150608124339/http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Units/Forces-Command/16th-Aviation-Brigade/1st-Aviation-Regiment. dead.
  13. Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill. Black Hawk helicopters to be based in Sydney . Ministers for Defence . 30 July 2005 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20051231080017/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=5017 . 31 December 2005 .
  14. News: Aircrews fly high at new work site . Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper . 1160 . 22 February 2007 . Department of Defence . Canberra . 0729-5685 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110404122517/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1160/topstories/story3.htm . 4 April 2011 .
  15. News: Webster . Flt-Lt Lauretta . Choppers rotate in Timor-Leste . Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper . 1172 . 9 August 2007 . Department of Defence . Canberra . 0729-5685 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110404091550/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1172/topstories/story1a.htm . 4 April 2011 .
  16. Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Crash of Black Hawk 221 Released . Department of Defence . 15 July 2008 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080802192411/http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=7976 . 2 August 2008.
  17. News: Two of our best lost in tragedy . Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper . 1158 . 14 December 2006 . Department of Defence . Canberra . 0729-5685 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110321221626/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1158/topstories/story01.htm . 21 March 2011 .
  18. Gubler. Abraham. 2008. Army Aviation's New Decade of Growth. Asia Pacific Defence Reporter. 34. 5. 16–19.
  19. Web site: Army ORBAT Structure . Department of Defence . Australian Army . Freedom of Information 274/20/21 . 31 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730094259/https://www.defence.gov.au/FOI/Docs/Disclosures/274_2021_Documents.pdf . 30 July 2021 . dead.
  20. Web site: Australia Day 2020 Honours List . The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia . 10 January 2022 . 26 January 2020.
  21. News: McLaughlin . Andrew . With a new Black Hawk on the way, the original is retired . 11 January 2022 . Australian Defence Business Review . 10 December 2021.
  22. News: Kerr . Julian . Air: MRH90 Taipan – reaching for 2016 milestones . 5 October 2018 . Australian Defence Magazine . 1 February 2016.
  23. Book: Australian National Audit Office . 2019–20 Major Projects Report - Department of Defence . 2020 . The Auditor-General . Canberra . 9781760336066. 18 December 2020. ANAO Report No.19 2020–21 . Multi-Role Helicopter Project Data Summary Sheet.
  24. News: Kerr. Julian. Australian Army to extend Black Hawk service lives for special forces use. IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 1 December 2015. 3 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160105000134/http://www.janes.com/article/56386/australian-army-to-extend-black-hawk-service-lives-for-special-forces-use. 5 January 2016. dead.
  25. Web site: Department of Defence . Additional Estimates – 04 March 2020 - Question 84 - MRH90 design - Senator Kitching . Senate Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade . 17 December 2020 . 21 April 2020.
  26. News: Tillett . Andrew . Army helicopter's gun failings leave special forces vulnerable . 17 December 2020 . Australian Financial Review . 27 October 2020.
  27. News: Jennings . Gareth . Australia begins SOF helo transition from Black Hawk to MRH90 . 17 December 2020 . Janes . 6 February 2019.
  28. News: Airbus targets special ops helos . 5 September 2022 . Australian Defence Business Review . 4 March 2019.
  29. Book: Department of Defence. 2016 Defence Whitepaper. 2016. Department of Defence. 9780994168054. 100 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160301003400/http://www.defence.gov.au/WhitePaper/Docs/2016-Defence-White-Paper.pdf . 1 March 2016 . dead.
  30. Web site: Burr. CA Lt. Gen. Richard. Hansard Tuesday 27 October 2020 Defence Portfolio . Senate Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade . Commonwealth of Australia. 22 March 2021 . 27 October 2020.
  31. News: Ziesing . Katherine . Special Forces helicopter: Industry brief for Land 2097 Phase 4 . 21 March 2021 . Australian Defence Magazine . 5 September 2019 . Canberra.
  32. News: Pittaway . Nigel . Defence confirms Special Forces helicopter cancellation . 22 March 2023 . Australian Defence Magazine . 9 March 2023.
  33. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton . Strengthening Army's helicopter capability . Department of Defence Ministers . 5 September 2022 . 10 December 2021.
  34. News: McLaughlin . Andrew . With a new Black Hawk on the way, the original is retired . 5 September 2022 . Australian Defence Business Review . 10 December 2021.
  35. Minister for Defence Richard Marles . Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy . Army helicopter fleet update . Department of Defence Ministers . 14 October 2023 . 29 September 2023.
  36. News: Banville . Kate . EXCLUSIVE: Chopper crash victims identified as recovery mission continues . 14 October 2023 . Country Caller . 30 July 2023.
  37. News: Blenkin . Max . First Army UH-60M Black Hawks arrive in Australia . 14 October 2023 . Australian Defence Magazine . 7 August 2023.

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