The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible foreign military sale of 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the government of Austria for an estimated $1.05 billion.
Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky, the UH-60M’s manufacturer, will serve as the principal contractor for the proposed purchase.
The Black Hawk is a multi-mission aircraft that can perform air assault, medical evacuations, command and control, combat search and rescue, and VIP transport. UH-60M is the latest in the product line designed to be more survivable, powerful and effective than its predecessors.
The purchase will equip Austria’s military with increased capability to deter and fight current and future threats.
The Central European nation also plans to acquire AN/AAR-57 counter-missile warning systems, ballistic armor protection systems, helicopter terrain awareness systems, training, transportation, logistics support and other related elements.
The Austrian armed forces are on a modernization journey. In February, a report revealed that the Federal Ministry of Defence led by Klaudia Tanner will purchase 225 Pandur Evolution wheeled tanks, which are produced in Vienna by General Dynamics European Land Systems.
The Federal Army also recently retired its fleet of Alouette III helicopters, which has been in service for 55 years.