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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Slovakia
 
 
First two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters delivered to Slovakia
 
The Slovak Air Force recently took delivery of its first two UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters, the country's defense ministry said on August 3. "I am glad to say that the modernization of our air force has become a reality, and these first two helicopters will add to the next seven," the Slovak Defense Minister Peter Gajdoš said.
     
First two UH 60M Black Hawk helicopters delivered toSlovakia 640 001Slovak Air Force's first two UH-60M utility helicopters
(Credit: Ministry of Defense of Slovakia)
     
"I believe (...) that the modernization of our armed forces will not end here (...) we will continue to modernize the ground forces in the frame of the Long-term Defense Development Plan with an emphasis on the construction and development of the Slovak Armed Forces, for which I will ask for a mandate from the Government and the National Council of the Slovakian Republic," stressed.

Slovakia purchased 9 UH-60M helicopters worth $261 mn through the US Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS). Four crews have already been trained to fly the aircraft, while further training is being continued. By the end of 2017, the Air Force will have six air crews ready to fly the new helicopters.

These new helicopters will bolster Slovakia’s ability to provide border patrol, rapid reaction, and field expedient fire fighting capability for its air and ground forces in counter-terrorism, border security, and humanitarian operations.

The UH-60Ms will replace an ageing fleet of Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters which have come to the end of their technical lives.