Dimdex Web Ads Asian Press Group banner 728x90Retiring the Taipan helicopters in 2025 was always a very bad idea – and now the decision never to return them to service is completely irrational. In making the announcement Defence Minister Richard Marles said this would cause a major capability gap – so why do it? The lack of interest in trying to understand the availability problem is stunning – and it’s an example of how poor decision-making has become when it relates to Defence. More than 500 of these helicopters are in service around the world. Italy has about 120 and has deployed them successfully to Afghanistan.

At the other end of the scale, New Zealand has achieved the highest availability rate in the world for their eight Taipans. Also, we continue the imaginary conversation with Lloyd Austin about AUKUS and some of the idiotic features of the deal that Australia urgently needs to renegotiate.

To listen to the podcast, click here.

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Editor Kym Bergmann at kym.bergmann@venturamedia.net

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Kym Bergmann
Kym Bergmann is the editor for Asia Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) and Defence Review Asia (DRA). He has more than 25 years of experience in journalism and the defence industry. After graduating with honours from the Australian National University, he joined Capital 7 television, holding several positions including foreign news editor and chief political correspondent. During that time he also wrote for Business Review Weekly, undertaking analysis of various defence matters.After two years on the staff of a federal minister, he moved to the defence industry and held senior positions in several companies, including Blohm+Voss, Thales, Celsius and Saab. In 1997 he was one of two Australians selected for the Thomson CSF 'Preparation for Senior Management' MBA course. He has also worked as a consultant for a number of companies including Raytheon, Tenix and others. He has served on the boards of Thomson Sintra Pacific and Saab Pacific.

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