New helicopters for Hellenic Air Force and Army

As a result of a tender in which the Leonardo AW139, Airbus Helicopters H175 and the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk were contesting, the Council of Chiefs of General Staffs unanimously favored the Leonardo AW139 as the future (Combat) Search and Rescue (CSAR) platform.

For the past 23 years, the Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (HAF, Hellenic Air Force) operates twelve Aerospatiale AS332C1 Super Puma Mk.I (Airbus Helicopters H215M). These helicopters are operated by 384 MED (Mira Erevnas Diasosis or Search and Rescue Squadron) from Elefsis air base. Once the Council of Chiefs of General Staff has formally approved the acquisition, a Letter of Request (LoR) will be drafted, starting the formal procurement process. Of the fourteen AW139s, four will be equipped in the CSAR configuration.

A far more overdue replacement is that of Greece’s current multi-role helicopter fleet existing of the (Agusta) Bell UH-1H/AB205 Iroquois and NHIndustries/Airbus Helicopters NH90TTH/SOH. The Elliniki Aeroporia Stratou (EAS - Hellenic Army Aviation) introduced the first of sixteen currently operated NH90s in its service in 2013 and has been disappointed by its performance and serviceability. The backbone of the EAS multi-role helicopter fleet has been the venerable Iroquois that have been operating since the early 1970s. Scramble Magazine estimates that around sixty Hellenic Army Aviation Iroquois are serviceable today.

The Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk has been selected to replace both types. On 15 December 2023, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Greece of 35 UH-60M Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 2.0 billion.

The Black Hawk will improve the EAS ability to deploy combat power to secure Greece’s borders, deter actions against its interests, and, when required, respond with credible force.

Credit photos: Leonardo Helicopters / Sikorsky / Marco Dijkshoorn