18-07-2025
Australian Army helicopter damaged in 'hard landing' during Talisman Sabre exercise in the NT
An Australian Army helicopter has been damaged during a multinational defence exercise in the Northern Territory, while all crew members on board avoided injury.
A defence spokesperson said the Tiger helicopter experienced a "hard landing" on Wednesday evening while participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre near Timber Creek, about 300 kilometres south-west of Katherine.
"The two aircrew aboard were unharmed and able to exit the helicopter safely," they said.
The spokesperson said the 1st Aviation Regiment had "implemented a pause on unit flying operations" after the incident but "other rotary wing support to the exercise will continue".
They said the Defence Flight Safety Bureau had deployed a team to the Northern Territory to start an "independent aviation investigation of the incident".
Exercise Talisman Sabre involves 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations and is the largest combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and United States military.
The biennial war games involve live firing and combat simulations across land, sea and air.
The ADF permanently grounded its fleet of Taipan helicopters after a fatal crash during the exercise two years ago which killed Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph "Phillip" Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs.
A defence investigation into the crash later found evasive action taken by the pilot avoided more lives being lost.
An ADF spokesperson told the ABC earlier this month both Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters would be used by the army during this year's exercise.
Australian personnel were also expected to fly in three Taipans operated by New Zealand's Defence Force as part of the exercise when it formally commenced last weekend.
"The Australian Army will deploy rotary-wing capabilities from the Battlefield Aviation Program, including the CH-47F Chinook and UH-60M Black Hawks to support movement of troops and equipment across the battlefield," they said.
The ABC also confirmed the 1st Regiment's Tiger helicopters would provide armed reconnaissance support during the large-scale war drills.
