Australian Army Helicopter Damaged in Hard Landing During Talisman Sabre Exercise in NT

An Australian Army Tiger helicopter has been damaged in a "hard landing" during Exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory, but all crew members on board were unharmed. The Defence Flight Safety Bureau has launched an investigation, and the 1st Aviation Regiment has paused unit flying operations. The incident occurred near Timber Creek during a multinational defence exercise involving 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations.

An Australian Army Tiger helicopter has been damaged in a "hard landing" during Exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory, with all crew members safely exiting the aircraft [1]. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening near Timber Creek, approximately 300 kilometers southwest of Katherine.

The Defence Flight Safety Bureau has deployed a team to the Northern Territory to conduct an independent aviation investigation into the incident. The 1st Aviation Regiment has implemented a pause on unit flying operations following the incident, but other rotary wing support to the exercise will continue [1].

Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial multinational defence exercise involving 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations, including the United States, Canada, Japan, and Singapore. The exercise involves live firing and combat simulations across land, sea, and air [2].

This is not the first incident involving the Australian Army's Tiger helicopters during Exercise Talisman Sabre. In 2023, a fatal crash involving a Tiger helicopter resulted in the death of four crew members. The investigation into that crash found that evasive action taken by the pilot avoided more lives being lost [1].

The incident underscores the importance of aviation safety during large-scale military exercises. The Australian Defence Force has implemented measures to ensure the safety of all personnel involved in the exercise.

References:
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-18/talisman-sabre-tiger-helicopter-incident-australian-army/105547892
[2] https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/07/14/australia-hosts-the-largest-ever-military-exercise-with-19-nations-leading-south-east-asia-nations-also-involved