STRATFORD, Conn.---The first of nine Black Hawks scheduled for delivery to the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defense (MOD) was unveiled during a ceremony here today at Sikorsky Aircraft's main facility.
When the Black Hawk enters service later this year, Austria will become the 25th international customer to operate a Black Hawk variant helicopter. "I would like officially to welcome Austria to the distinguished group of countries that fly the finest utility helicopter in the world, the Black Hawk," said Sikorsky President Dean C. Borgman.
Borgman handed over the aircraft logbook to Brig. Gen. Manfred Münzer, head of the Austrian MOD's Air Material staff. Austria signed a contract in 2000 to purchase nine S-70A-42 Black Hawks, plus three option aircraft, for utility transport and search and rescue missions. Sikorsky will also provide training, customer service and support. The aircraft are scheduled for 2002 delivery.
"Europe is an extremely competitive market and we won this contract by virtue of providing the best helicopter in its class," Borgman said.
After Austria's Tyrolean Valley was hit by massive snow avalanches in February, 1999, 10 U.S. Army Black Hawks based in Germany played a prominent role in subsequent rescue efforts. Operating continuously during daylight hours and flying at high altitudes, the Black Hawks carried 25 passengers per trip and evacuated thousands to safety. Food and supplies were loaded for return flights.
"This was a remarkable performance, not only for the aircraft, but also for the crews who fly and maintain the helicopters, and the Austrian authorities who so successfully led and organized the entire operation," Borgman said.
Sikorsky delivered the first production Hawk in 1978, a U.S. Army UH-60A Black Hawk. Sikorsky later developed several H-60 derivatives including the Seahawk, Jayhawk, and Pave Hawk, as well as the international variant S-70 for export. In December 2001, Sikorsky delivered its 2500th Hawk aircraft, a UH-60L for the Hawaii Army National Guard.
H-60 derivatives are in service with all five branches of the U.S. military, and more than 600 S-70s, including naval derivatives, are serving, or are on order, with 25 international customers: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, People's Republic of China, Spain, The Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan,Thailand and Turkey.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacturing and service. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., of Hartford, Conn., which provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
