Austrian Air Force receives its first upgraded S-70A Black Hawk
On 15 March 2021, the Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte (OeLSK, Austrian Air Force) welcomed their first upgraded Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk utility helicopter. The OeLSK has nine Black Hawks in its inventory, with each airframe being already eighteen years old.
The mittlere Transporthubschrauberstaffel (mTHSSta), based at Tulln-Langenlebarn Brumowski air base, saw the arrival and official hand-over of the S-70A-42 Black Hawk 6M-BC (construction number 702743).
This Black Hawk is the first example of nine Black Hawks to receive an extensive avionics upgrade in the United States.
Already in October 2019, 6M-BC was noted with its temporary American registration N60RN with Ace Aeronautics LLc at Guntersville (AL). A contract signed in June 2017 with Ace Aeronautics LLc and valued at over USD 40 million involves integrating the supplier’s Deck VL-60 system, with Garmin G5000H avionics, plus an Avalex Technologies cockpit management unit and digital moving map capability. Additional updates include helmet-mounted displays, a secure communication fit, and the ability to use GPS-based approach procedures.
The Austrian Black Hawk fleet will be expanded with three former al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniya (RJAF, Royal Jordanian Air Force) UH-60L Black Hawks, which were purchased by the Austrian Ministry of Defence in 2020 for the sum of USD 72.8 million. Scramble Magazine reported on this deal with Jordan on 24 February 2021. An add-on contract with Ace Aeronautics LLc will also provide these Black Hawks with the same upgrade.
Photos: Hans van den Berg (Scramble Archive) and Ace Aeronautics LLc