The U.S. Government has awarded Sikorsky a Foreign Military Sale contract to provide 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Greece. The deal includes 35 aircraft for the Hellenic Army as well as personnel training, training equipment and an initial provisioning package, which will significantly improve self-defence and bolster interoperability within the nation and with NATO allies.
“Our partnership with Greece spans decades, and we are pleased to see the nation’s continued trust in Sikorsky helicopters as Greece will benefit from an integrated Hawk family of aircraft supporting national security and humanitarian missions,” said Hamid Salim, Sikorsky vice president of Army and Air Force Systems. “The Black Hawk helicopter offers Greece a range of operational capabilities and a global ecosystem of more than 5,000 Hawk aircraft operated by 36 countries around the world.
“The newly contracted UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters are an additional testament for the long-standing relationship Lockheed Martin shares with Greece, its Armed Forces and defence industries for over 80 years,” said Costas Papadopoulos, international business development executive director for Greece at Lockheed Martin. “The Black Hawk helicopter is the workhorse of multi-mission medium lift aircraft and will enable Greece to perform key operations in the region. These helicopters will join Greece's upgraded F-16Vs, new MH-60Rs, existing F-16s, C-130s, and S-70Bs, as well as future F-35s. This enhanced fleet will provide Greece with extended capabilities for air, land, and sea operations, contributing to the nation's security for years to come.”
Greece will utilize a range of Hawk family variants, including the S-70B fleet and recently obtained MH-60R maritime helicopters for the Hellenic Navy, to take advantage of operational and sustainment benefits through fleet commonality. The Black Hawk offers versatility in executing diverse operations over extended distances and in demanding conditions, enhancing survivability and overall effectiveness in 21st Century Security® missions.
Drawing on Lockheed Martin’s longstanding partnership with Greece spanning over 80 years, the company is prepared to assist Greece by providing advanced capabilities like F-35s, F-16s, and C-130s, along with Hawk aircraft to enhance the nation’s defence capabilities and alignment with allied countries.
Greece will become the 12th European country to utilize the Black Hawk helicopter. The U.S. Government has granted Sikorsky contracts to produce and supply a total of 84 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to various countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. This further demonstrates the Black Hawk's status as the leading multi-role utility helicopter worldwide. On October 23, Sikorsky was also awarded UH-60M contracts to expand the Black Hawk fleets in Austria, Brazil, Sweden, and Thailand. In July, Sikorsky secured contracts for Black Hawks in Croatia and Jordan; while in June, Romania increased its fleet of S-70 Black Hawks, which have the same lineage as the UH-60M.
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