This was published 15 years ago
Tigers not ready to fly: Defence
Attack helicopters the opposition says should be sent to Afghanistan to support Australian troops will not be fully operational for at least two years.
The opposition defence spokesman, David Johnston, started a war of words between the government and the opposition by saying the nation should send in hundreds more troops as well as tanks, helicopters and artillery to support soldiers in Oruzgan province.
His speech in Parliament followed claims that a soldier killed in Oruzgan last month, Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, would have lived if Australian troops had adequate artillery and air support, including Tiger attack helicopters.
Australia should send a squadron of four to six Tigers and 100 personnel to end its dependence on helicopter support by allied nations, Senator Johnston said.
However, the Defence Department told theHerald yesterday the Tigers were not expected to be fully operational until December 2012. Eighteen of the 22 armed reconnaissance helicopters have been delivered by their maker, Australian Aerospace, and are being introduced into service with the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin.
It is believed that while the helicopters could be deployed, their night-fighting ability and armaments will take another two years to complete.
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In a statement yesterday, Senator Johnston said he was merely echoing the concerns of soldiers when he called for the boost in capability.
''It was in this context that I also called for attack helicopters, which interestingly the Prime Minister has now acknowledged as being necessary and Australia is now in talks with the US to secure extra attack helicopters,'' he said.