According to information obtained by Militär Aktuell, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) is currently considering an offer to purchase twelve UH-60M Black Hawks from manufacturer Sikorsky officially by the Armed Forces accepted. The DSCA is responsible for the processing of arms exports by the USA as part of the Foreign Military Sales process.
Austria had requested a purchase and an offer for twelve new UH-60M Black Hawk. After approval by the US State Department, the offer was as reported by Militär Aktuell to Austria on May 29.
Just in time for the deadline, the Austrian Armed Forces have now signed the so-called “Letter of Acceptance”. This is the last major step in the formal process before the final purchase contract is signed. This usually takes 60 to 90 days. The twelve UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters are to replace the AB-212 helicopters at the Vogler airbase in Linz-Hörsching. The Austrian Armed Forces still have 22 of the AB-212s, which have been in service since 1980. They are scheduled to be finally retired from 2028 to 2031 and the armed forces are to implement the planned target structure of a two-type helicopter fleet (36 AW169 Lion from Leonardo and 24 Black Hawks). https://militaeraktuell.at/kommandouebergabe-beim-jagdkommando/ In order to achieve the required personnel levels, the Austrian Armed Forces are intensifying the training of technicians and military helicopter pilots. According to a response to a parliamentary inquiry on June 17, the Austrian Armed Forces currently employ 81 military helicopter pilots for 114 posts in the operational unit. There are currently two military pilots in training to become helicopter pilots and six military helicopter pilots in training to become operational military pilots. In future, eight to ten helicopter pilots are to be trained each year. Manufacturer Sikorsky has also recently been pleased with other Black Hawk orders: Brazil and Sweden, like Austria, will each procure twelve UH-60Ms.
Here for more army news and here to further reports about Sikorsky.
