Now it’s a done deal: the Austrian Armed Forces are getting a second Black Hawk squadron as requested. Some time ago The decision to expand the first squadron, which currently has nine aircraft, to twelve helicopters was made some time ago. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has now also approved Austria’s application for the sale via Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of a total of twelve new UH-60M Black Hawks from the manufacturer Sikorsky. manufacturer Sikorsky. The total package, including logistics and program support elements, has an estimated price of up to 970 million euros (1.05 billion US dollars).
According to the FMS process, the ball is now in the US Congress’ court. It has been officially informed of this potential sale. Congress reviews these formal notifications in accordance with the procedures under Section 36(b) (22 U.S.C. §2776(b)) of the Arms Export Control Act and is authorized to block a sale. If the U.S. Congress does not object, an official offer is made after 30 days and the buyer is usually given 85 days to accept it. This would make it possible to conclude the deal before the 2024 national elections.
According to the DSCA report, the Austrian government has requested the purchase of twelve UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters with a comprehensive equipment package including 26 T700-GE-701D engines, 15 AN/AAR-57 missile defense warning systems (CMWS) and 30 H-764U Embedded Global Positioning Systems with Inertial Navigation (EGI) with country-specific, selectively available anti-spoofing modules (or Future M-Code replacements). https://militaeraktuell.at/flying-bulls-preparations-airpower/ The package also includes APR-39C(V)1/4 radar warning receivers, AVR-2B laser detection equipment, AN/ARN-147(V) very high frequency omnidirectional receiver for instrument landing systems, AN/ARN-149(V) low frequency radio receiver for automatic direction finding (ADF) AN/ARN-153 Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) receiver, AN/APN-209 radar altimeter radios, EBC-406HM emergency locator transmitters (ELT) as well as FRIES Fast Rope systems and “Bambi-Bucket” fire extinguishing containers, medical evacuation couches, helmets, training equipment, spare and repair parts, technical and logistical support, tools and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment. 
The announced equipment suggests a very extensive multi-purpose use, including combat evacuation missions. According to information available to Militär Aktuell, the new Black Hawk helicopters will replace a squadron of Augusta Bell AB 212s stationed at Fligerhorst Vogler in Linz Hörsching from 2027/28. The AB 212 has been in service with the Austrian Armed Forces since 1980. Of the original 24 aircraft, 22 are currently still in service.
The UH-60M – also known as “Mike” – is the third generation of the Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter built since 1974. The more than 5,000 aircraft have already clocked up more than four million flight hours. More than 1,300 of the M version have been delivered to the US military and 15 international customers since 2006. According to Sikorsky’s International Business Manager Christian Albrecht, more than 200 additional aircraft are currently planned for the US Armybut also for international customers. Albrecht recently said in an interview with Militär Aktuell“Demand remains high. We are not surprised by this: with its improvements, the UH-60M is a technological bridge towards future helicopter systems (note: for example NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability – NGRC). The US Army plans to deploy it at least into the 2060s, and many more updates and modernizations will be incorporated by then: more powerful engines, improvements in avionics, additional digital flight control elements.”
According to Albrecht, servicing and operating the new aircraft is also possible with the army’s existing infrastructure facilities: “The M version is basically identical to the Black Hawk version introduced by the army in terms of design and dimensions. This means that no new hangar is required, only new tools and diagnostic systems.” Albrecht continues: “And Delta training for the personnel, because certain processes have changed, for example when reading out data. But the effort involved is manageable.”
Black Hawk in Langenlebarn
The Austrian Armed Forces have been operating nine Sikorsky S-70A-42 Black Hawk helicopters at Leopold Figl Air Base in Langenlebarn since 2002.In 2017, the Austrian Armed Forces commissioned the US company Ace Aeronautics LLC in Alabama to modernize the red-white-red Black Hawks. Seven aircraft have now been refitted (-> of the “Black Ace Hawk” has landed) and are in service in Austria. The last two aircraft are currently being refitted in Alabama.
After a lengthy search, three used, compatible ex-US Army Black Hawks were selected to reinforce the squadron in Langenlebarn, as mentioned at the beginning. The first of these three is now also being converted to the G5000H Ace Deck cockpit at Ace Aeronautics.
Two types of fleet
The declared aim of the Austrian Armed Forces is to operate a “two-type helicopter fleet” in future. This is to consist of the AW169 Lion from Leonardo of which 36 units in the two versions B and MA will be based in Langenlebarn and Aigen im Ennstal. So far, five aircraft of the B version have been delivered. A further four aircraft are due to be delivered by the end of the year. These aircraft will replace the Alouette III, which had its fly-out in Aigen im Ennstal a few days agoand the OH-58.
The Black Hawks are to form the second type family. With twelve Ace-Deck S-70s in Langenlebarn and, if the US offer is accepted, twelve UH-60Ms in Linz-Hörsching to replace the AB-212s.
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