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Darwin, NT

'It's an absolute Ferrari to fly on': ADF retires attack helicopters

ABC News
2 min read Rewritten in plain language

Defence ForcesArmyDefence and National Security

Changed after publishing · 1 edit
  • the headline was changed: 'It's an absolute Ferrari to fly on': ADF retires attack helicopter fleet to make way for Apacheshelicopters

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  • The Australian Army will retire the use of the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.
  • After more than two decades, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is farewelling its $1.1-billion fleet of attack helicopters, known as the Tigers, and replacing them with American Apaches.
  • Captain Nicholas Bilton, who is based in Darwin and has been flying the Tigers for three years, said the experience has been "absolutely awesome".
  • According to a 2016 report, Australia was one of four countries operating the two-seater attack helicopters, with France, Germany and Spain also including them in their fleets.
  • An ADF spokesperson said the transition to the Apache Helicopter reflected "Australia's need to operate in an evolving threat environment".

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Neither of the two things this headline claims is in the report.

  • The headline puts “It's an absolute Ferrari to fly on” in quotation marks. Nobody says those words anywhere in the report.
  • “Ferrari” is named in the headline. We could not find it in the report.

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The Australian Army will retire the use of the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.

The 1st Aviation Regiment have farewelled the fleet with a flyover in Darwin.

The fleet will be replaced by Apache helicopters, and the regiment moved to Townsville.

After more than two decades, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is farewelling its $1.1-billion fleet of attack helicopters, known as the Tigers, and replacing them with American Apaches.

The Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) will be retired from use in the ADF this month, and the 1st Aviation Regiment will be transitioned to Townsville away from Darwin.

Captain Nicholas Bilton, who is based in Darwin and has been flying the Tigers for three years, said the experience has been "absolutely awesome".

"It's literally me living out my childhood dream — I've wanted to do it ever since I was a kid," he said.

"I think to just savour the moment, enjoy the memories Tiger brought.

"I really enjoyed flying it but I'm ready for the next steps."

Known for their speed and agility, the 22 Tiger ARHs were acquired by the Australian defence force in 2001 and have been in service since 2004.

According to a 2016 report, Australia was one of four countries operating the two-seater attack helicopters, with France, Germany and Spain also including them in their fleets.

It's unknown yet where the Tigers will be retired to, although last year the Albanese government considered offloading them to Kyiv to aid in Ukraine's war efforts

Captain Bilton last week completed a final send off for the Tigers with a flyover of the Mindil Beach Markets.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jason Perrins said the Tigers have been a "key and longstanding" part of the unit.

"It's been part of the furniture here really, and all of the people that have been through it, it is going to be a sad time but it's also been an excellent period through that and we're celebrating the people," he said.

He said the Tigers have participated in international exercises, supporting the US and recently showing off defence capabilities to international partners in Malaysia.

The regiment's aircraft will be transitioned to AH‑64E Apache attack helicopters, which are being acquired from the United States in a $4.5 billion dollar deal.

Six Apaches have been delivered to Townsville, with all 29 expected to arrive in Australia by the end of 2029.

Lieutenant-Colonel Perrins was one of the first army pilots qualified to fly the Apaches.

"I wouldn't say the Tigers can't keep up, both are excellent attack platforms, but what the Apache does, it is a step-up in a number of areas, connectivity and data systems and sensors," he said.

An ADF spokesperson said the transition to the Apache Helicopter reflected "Australia's need to operate in an evolving threat environment".

You are reading our version, not theirs. This is ABC News's report with its verdicts and loaded words taken out. Plain description stays, and so do adjectives that carry a fact, such as "former" or "federal". The reporting, the facts and the quotations are theirs — quotations are never edited — and the indicators beside it measure this version. Hover or tap Adjectives to see every one left in the text.

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