What has long been suspected is now a fact: the Austrian Armed Forces are adding a second squadron of at least twelve Black Hawk helicopters from the US manufacturer Sikorsky to their helicopter fleet. US manufacturer Sikorsky . Some time ago the completion of the current first squadron of nine aircraft to twelve helicopters had already been decided some time ago.
Almost a year ago Chief of the General Staff Rudolf Striedinger spoke about the purchase of further Black Hawks in a major interview with Militär Aktuell about the purchase of further Black Hawks: “With the three aircraft that are already being procured, we will complete our squadron of nine,” Striedinger said at the time. “In addition, we want to procure another squadron so that the bottom line (meaning together with the new AW169 helicopters currently being procured from the of the Italian manufacturer Leonardo) to have the same air capacities as we have now. However, we will then have significantly more modern equipment, which should result in a higher operational readiness and a higher level of clarity.”
“We will work through the build-up plan step by step.
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Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner
According to information from the Ministry of Defense, the three new Black Hawks, which are due to be commissioned next year, will cost 60 million euros. There was initially no precise information on the purchase price of the additional squadron, but according to Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, the influx is a fixed part of the build-up plan. This provides for as reported – provides for investments totaling 16.6 billion euros in new equipment and equipment by 2032. In an interview with APA, Tanner expressed her confidence that the build-up plan could be completed “point by point”, also in light of the current high inflation.
According to Militär Aktuell information, in addition to the twelve planned new Black Hawks of the UH-60M Mike version, up to six further aircraft could also be procured. A decision on this is likely to depend above all on the production capacities and free production slots of manufacturer Sikorsky, but also on whether Austria can “get in” on the current long-term procurement contract for the M version of the US Army. https://militaeraktuell.at/hirtenberger-gf-eva-stein-peter-pichler-im-gespraech/ A decision is also to be made soon on the successor to the C-130 transport aircraft of the US Army. a decision on the successor to the C-130 transport aircraft of the Austrian Armed Forces. transport aircraft. In addition to new C-130J Super Hercules from the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin the main focus is on the KC-390 from the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is a promising contender. The successor to the Saab-105OE is also to be decided in the near future: Here currently Leonardo with the FA version of its M-346 advanced jet trainer with armament capability is currently the favorite, The Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody is at least an outsider with its L-39NG.
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