Australia's new military choppers weak in strong wind: media

Australian authorities have acknowledged that there is problems with the latest helicopter acquisition for Australia's defense force amid concerns the aircraft are proving difficult to start and stop in strong wind, Australia's national broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

"Some issues were encountered starting and stopping rotors under certain environmental conditions," the Department of Defense said in a statement.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that the Australian Defense Force's (ADF) new Airbus made MRH90 Taipan multi-role helicopter are currently undergoing sea trials on the Australian Navy's new amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra.

A News Corp newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported the design of amphibious assault ships served to accentuate wind conditions that affected helicopter rotors at slow speed.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) research director Andrew Davies, was surprised there was an issue with ship-born operations.

"In Europe there are helicopters flying off frigates. In fact, the naval version is the NATO frigate helicopter," he said.

Davies questioned the Federal Government's decision a decade ago to acquire the MRH90.

"I thought that this particular acquisition decision was an especially poor one and it wasn't the helicopter that the army wanted," he said.

Davies said the ADF wanted a new helicopter from the United States' Black Hawk helicopter family, however he suspected political influence and the lure of Australian jobs was to blame for the purchase of the MRH90.

The helicopters are being constructed by a unit of Airbus Group in Brisbane, Australia

The Australian government has purchased 40 MRH90 Taipans for Australia's Army and a further six for the navy.

According to Airbus, the 10-ton helicopter has a range of 800 km, can travel up to 300 km per hour with four crew and 18 combat troops. Endi