The Australian Defence Force on Wednesday received the first four new 3 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
“The first 3 of a planned fleet of 40 UH-60M Black Hawks arrived recently in Sydney on board two U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemasters,” the Australian Defence Department said on Twitter.
As noted by the Department, the Black Hawks will undergo a short period of testing before they are ready to commence flying operations later this year.
The multi-mission helicopters, designed and manufactured by Sikorsky, are expected to replace Australia’s current non-Black Hawk multi-role helicopter fleet with a more reliable and proven system.
The first 3 of a planned fleet of 40 UH-60M Black Hawks arrived recently in Sydney on board two @usairforce C-17A Globemasters. The Black Hawks will undergo a short period of testing before they are ready to commence flying operations later this year. 💪🇦🇺🇺🇸#YourADF pic.twitter.com/P7OqKkTYkN
— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) August 22, 2023
The Black Hawk is unmatched for durability, survivability, multi-role versatility, affordability and interoperability, and has proven to be a dependable battlefield and special forces aviation asset for Australia and 34 other countries around the globe.
The UH-60M helicopter culminates decades of technological advancement, improved performance and real-world operational experience. Digital avionics and autopilot reduce pilot workload while enhancing situational awareness and improving survivability.