In 2022, Portugal signed a contract for six second-hand UH-60A helicopters to be delivered between 2023 and 2025. The aircraft will be refurbished by Arista Aviation Services and used by Squadron 551 for rural aerial firefighting.
Three additional Black Hawks were authorized in September 2024 for delivery in 2026 by Ace Aeronautics. These are UH-60L equipped with T700-GE-701C engines, an external cargo hook system, and a weather radar.
In October 2025, the first UH-60L arrived to join the four UH-60A helicopters already in service. It was announced that the remaining four helicopters will also be of the Lima variant.
Three additional Black Hawks were authorized in September 2024 for delivery in 2026 by Ace Aeronautics. These are UH-60L equipped with T700-GE-701C engines, an external cargo hook system, and a weather radar.
In October 2025, the first UH-60L arrived to join the four UH-60A helicopters already in service. It was announced that the remaining four helicopters will also be of the Lima variant.
News |
Portuguese Air Force Receives First UH-60L Black Hawk
09-Oct-25 - The Portuguese Air Force has received its first Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, the first of three ex-U.S. Army units, joining the four UH-60A aircraft already in service with Squadron 551 “Panteras” #Portugal
Portuguese Air Force Accepts First UH-60L Black Hawk
03-Oct-25 - The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) has accepted the first of three ex-U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters in the United States, following refurbishment and upgrade work performed by Ace Aeronautics in Alabama #BlackHawk
Portuguese Air Force Receives Third UH-60 Black Hawk
07-Dec-24 - The Portuguese Air Force has received the third of six UH-60A Black Hawks refurbished by Arista Aviation under a program signed in 2022. The remaining three helicopters are scheduled to arrive next year. This year, three additional helicopters were authorized, bringing the total to nine, with delivery planned for 2026 #BlackHawk
First Operational Flight for Portuguese Black Hawk
18-Dec-23 - The Portuguese Air Force has successfully completed the first operational flights using its initial pair of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, the first in a fleet of six #BlackHawk| More News ... |  |
|---|---|
Units |
| Years | Units | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 2023- | Esq 551 | Ovar |
|
Deployments List of Aircraft |
| C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70-1257 | uh-60a | 1987 | 29801 uh-60a FAP d/d Nov23 |  87-24669: US Army;
conv to EH-60A N669JH: Aircraft Investment Holdings Llc at Enterprise, AL from... o/o, first flight at Enterprise, AL | |
| 70-1231 | uh-60a | 29802 uh-60a FAP d/d Nov23 | 87-24666: Conv to EH-60A N666AA: Aircraft Investment Holdings Llc at Enterprise, AL from... | ||
| 70-1112 | uh-60a | 29803 FAP d/d Dec24 Esq 551 | 87-24599: US Army N224XA: Aircraft Investment Holdings Llc at Enterprise, AL from... | ||
| 70-1214 | uh-60a | 29804 FAP Apr25 | 87-26004: US Army;
2015 Co C 1-214th AVN Grafenwöhr USAAAD, Germ... 16jun20 1-214th AVN. at Ramstein  C/1-214th AVN at Vilseck to CONUS as air freight in C17 former unit C/1-214th AV... N336FA: Arista Aviation Services Oct24 | ||
| 70-1204 | uh-60l | 29807 FAP | 87-26002: US Army in 1995 159 MedCo. ; 1999 SFOR mrks. 159 MedCo. - N1143L: International Defense & Aerospace Group Inc at Glen Mil... N1143L: Ace Aeronautics Llc at Guntersville, AL from Mar24 |
