Only four out of a total of nine Black Hawks of the Austrian Armed Forces are currently operational, although the system is “only” 17 years old. The reason for this: In contrast to the Alouette III, for example, which is three times as old, the Sikorsky helicopters have numerous computer systems built into them, which make so-called “obsolescences” necessary every ten years on average.
This means that certain spare parts or components are no longer produced. In the case of the Black Hawk, the increasingly failing Rockwell-Collins color displays have to be replaced and extensive cockpit modifications carried out as a result. Although the 1st Squadron in Langenlebarn has now received the first Black Hawk back from the US company Ace Aeronautis in Huntsville (Alabama), equipped with a Garmin-based Ace Deck cockpit (Conrad and Tetis radios were also integrated on this occasion), the modernization is taking longer than expected. On the one hand, this is due to the late initiation of the overhaul project. On the other hand, according to responsible officers, test flights, factory quality inspections and, subsequently, ship transportation have been delayed because the US Federal Aviation Administration has been much more “picky” than before since the serious problems with the Boeing 737 MAX passenger aircraft became known. Regardless of this, the remaining eight Bundesheer Black Hawks (initially with the support of Ace personnel) are to receive the same installations as the already modernized S-70 at Fliegerwerft 1 in Langenlebarn over the next two to three years. At the same time, three very similar UH-60s (US military type number, which is also used for S-70s sold via the US government) from the Jordanian Air Force are to be retrofitted to the Austro-Helis in Huntsville by Ace Aeronautics and will strengthen the red-white-red Black Hawk fleet from 2022 at the latest. The US export license required for the procurement has already been granted.
You can also read our big air report on the status quo of Austrian Armed Forces helicopters and aircraft.
