“This is a further shift in the modernization of our air force technology, as well as strengthening their capabilities. The new Black Hawks will serve not only for the needs of the armed forces, but especially for the benefit of all citizens in various critical situations”, said the head of the defense department.
As he added, only recently, Black Hawk helicopters were deployed in fire fighting in the difficult terrain of the Low Tatras in the cadastral area of Bystrá and are fully involved in the exercises of the armed forces.
Modernization projects
“I am very pleased that under the influence of the current management of the defense department, modernization projects have started to be fulfilled. It is not only a commitment to our allies, but also a commitment to our citizens”, emphasized Ján Hoľko, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense.
At the same time, he expressed the belief that, as the management of the ministry succeeded in implementing modernization projects of the Air Force, it would continue to do well in the case of ground forces projects as well.
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic gen. Daniel Zmeko thanked the Defense Ministry's leadership for the successful acquisition process of expanding the helicopter fleet while stressing that the new two helicopters would contribute to streamlining the training process for both air and ground personnel.
With the new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, the air force pilots also have returned to Slovakia. The crews were trained for various tasks, such as air transport, parachutes, crane rescue, special ways of landing, fire fighting and flying in mountainous terrain.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic has six helicopters of this type in service by now, while the remaining three will be delivered by the end of 2019 in accordance with the contract.
A total of nine UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters were procured by the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic through the US government program FMS (Foreign Military Sales). In addition to the price of helicopters, logistics support, training of aviation and technical personnel, and transportation of helicopters to Slovakia are included in the total amount of the US $ 261 million contract.
UH-60M Black Hawk 7448 7449 ( Vzdušné sily Armády Slovenskej Republiky )
See also |
UH-60M Black Hawk in Vzdušné sily Armády Slovenskej Republiky