Greece goes ahead with Black Hawk order
Greece will operate several variants of the Hawk helicopter family. (Photo: Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky)
Greece has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the procurement 35 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
As reported by Shephard previously, Greece requested the purchase of Black Hawks, with engines, defensive aids, self-defence weapons and other associated equipment in a deal worth up to US$2 billion last December.
The Sikorsky helicopters will replace the current multi-role helicopter fleet that “will allow Greece to maintain the appropriate level of readiness to conduct combined operations”, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said at the time.
With its existing S-70B fleet and newly acquired MH-60R maritime helicopters for the Hellenic Navy, Greece will operate several variants of the Hawk family and benefit from the operational and sustainment advantages of fleet commonality, Lockheed said.
“The latest generation UH-60M Black Hawk will support the Hellenic Ministry of Defense’s ongoing modernisation and will serve as a dependable helicopter for vital national and allied security missions,” said Paul Lemmo, president of Sikorsky.
In addition to the Black Hawks, Greece could also acquire Leonardo-made AW139 multi-role helicopters to replace its Puma fleet that have been carrying out search and rescue (SAR) missions.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy
The joint acquisition of Saab’s GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft by 11 allies marks the end of NATO’s more than four-decade reliance on a US-built airborne early warning platform.
-
NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase
The proposed drone acquisition is intended to form part of a distributed structure of surveillance capabilities, complementing systems such as the RQ-4D Global Hawks already acquired by NATO.
-
US Air Force lays the groundwork to move the F-15EX acquisition to lots 7 and 8
Procurement of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for future production lots signals the air force's commitment to an expanded 267-aircraft Eagle II fleet while sustaining full electronic warfare capability on every fighter.
-
US Air Force unveils new details of Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace C-17 and C-5
New planning documents reveal how the service is defining the aircraft expected to succeed the C-17 and C-5, including its initial requirements and procurement roadmap.
-
A new shape in the sky? Mapping out the F-47’s configuration
As images of what might be an F-47 prototype or proof-of-concept vehicle emerge from the Nevada desert, what do they tell us about the aircraft’s capabilities and enabling technologies?