More Black Hawks for Croatia approved

On 26 January 2024, the US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of additional UH-60M Black Hawk twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter helicopters to Croatia. The estimated value is around USD 500 million for the package which includes eight UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters along with nineteen engines, training devices, transportation, spare parts, tools and equipment.

The approval also lists various onboard systems like UHF/VHF/SATCOM radios, machine guns, radar warning receivers, laser detecting sets, IFF transponders, forward-looking infrared systems, armor protection, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, fast rope systems, hoist, palletized gunner seats, external gun mount systems, etc.

Because some systems are more numerous than necessary for the requested number of helicopters, it looks like Croatia opts to equip the four Black Hawks already delivered with additional systems. It is known by Scramble Magazine that the four UH-60Ms in service were purchased rather ‘clean’ to first get acquainted with ‘western’ technologies and procedures.

Of the earlier delivered Black Hawks, two were donated by the US under an FMS contract and another two were ordered by Croatian government. The first group was delivered by a USAF C-17A Globemaster III on 3 February 2022 and the second group on 3 December 2022. Currently all four UH-60Ms are still operated from Zagreb-Pleso air base awaiting the construction work at their home base Zagreb-Lučko to be finished.

Credit photo: Chris Lofting (via planespotters.net)