Although Austria is required to maintain military neutrality under its postwar constitution, it has deployed troops alongside NATO around the world, and its military has adopted NATO standards.

The United States is moving forward with a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) that would see the non-aligned nation of Austria purchase 12 UH-60M Black Hawk medium-lift helicopters, according to the US Department of State. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which oversees FMS, notified Congress on June 17 of the proposed sale.

In addition to the dozen helicopters made by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, Austria would receive related equipment including engines, rescue hoists, self-defense systems and auxiliary fuel tanks, as well as spares, training and support in a deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

Sikorsky is the prime contractor in the FMS deal, with GE Aerospace also supplying a total of 26 T-700-GE-7013 engines, with 24 installed in the aircraft and two spares.

“The proposed sale will improve Austria’s capability to deter current and future threats and support coalition operations and the United States’ and Austria’s goal of greater military interoperability,” a State Department spokesperson told Aviation Week.

The UH-60M Black Hawks would increase the capabilities of the Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte (Austrian Air Force) under Austria’s Armed Forces 2032+ modernization plan. 

According to international military analyst firm Janes, Austria’s rotary aircraft fleet currently consists of:

• Nine Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawks, which have been updated to the UH-60L standard;
• 22 Agusta-Bell AB-212s; and 
• 10 Bell OH-58 Kiowas. 

The early model S-70A Black Hawks have been employed in domestic humanitarian and disaster relief operations, and were previously deployed to European and NATO missions in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Although Austria is not a NATO member due to its constitutional policy requiring permanent neutrality, it cooperates extensively with the alliance through the Partnership for Peace (PfP), which it joined in 1995. That has included contributing troops to NATO-led missions around the world, and aligning its military forces to the NATO standard.

The UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 1979
• Number Built: ~5,000+ (all variants)
• Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.8 m), including rotor
• Rotor Diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
• Weight (MTOW): ~22,000 lb (9,980 kg)
• Engines: Two General Electric T700-GE-701C/D turboshaft engines
• Top Speed: 183 mph (294 km/h)
• Range: 370 mi (590 km)
• Service Ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,800 m)
• Loadout: Two side guns (depending on variant); four hardpoints on stub wings; can carry rockets, air-to-ground, or air-to-air missiles
• Aircrew: Four (two pilots, two crew chiefs/gunners) in most configurations

Europe (Mostly) Loves the Black Hawk Helicopter

The UH-60M has slowly been gaining a foothold within the NATO alliance, and Lithuania received its first units last October. Deliveries to Austria are scheduled to begin in 2028.

However, it was a year ago that NATO member Poland opted not to buy S-70i, the international military version of the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk, designated the UH-60 Black Hawk for US military service. Warsaw stated that it would review which rotary aircraft best suits the needs of the Polish armed forces as it seeks to replace its legacy Mi-24 attack helicopters.

“The stalwart Black Hawk is the backbone of air assault, medevac, logistics, and command and control,” Harrison Kass wrote for The National Interest in March. The US military operates more than 2,000 UH-60Ms, the modernized variant that entered service in 2006. Plans call for the Black Hawk fleet to undergo further upgrades and modernization, ensuring it can continue to serve in those roles for years to come. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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