Another UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be operated by the Air Force arrived during the afternoon of Thursday, October 9, at Air Base No. 8 (BA8), in Ovar.

This is the fifth aircraft of its kind received by the Air Force to reinforce the 551 Squadron – “Panteras”, the first in the “Lima” version, with changes that differ from the previous four, in the “Alpha” version.

“The main changes relate to new engines and a new gearbox, which allows the operational useful life of the air asset to be increased”, indicates the Air Force in a statement sent to newsrooms.

“In relation to the ‘Alpha’ version, this new version received by the Air Force also presents an increase in maximum take-off weight of around 680 kilograms, greater suspended load capacity – more than 450 kilograms – and better performance in conditions of high temperature and altitude. In addition to those technical improvements, the UH-60L Black Hawk is equipped with meteorological radar, contributing to increased flight capacity in any atmospheric condition, being also equipped with an external winch, which will allow search and rescue missions to be carried out”, the note continues.

This new helicopter was transported by an Air Force KC-390 plane, which left on Tuesday for Huntsville, Alabama, in the United States, having carried out technical stops at Air Base No. 4, in Lajes, and in Rhode Island, in the USA. The return flight started this Thursday, heading to BA8, on a direct flight.

“The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is intended to be operated by Squadron 551 – ‘Panteras’, whose main missions are aerial combat against rural fires and the projection of forces on the ground, with the capacity to transport up to 12 operational personnel and 2950 liters of water for launch”, it can be read.

Due to the high demands of the missions assigned to this helicopter, the Air Force crews responsible for operating the UH-60 Black Hawk will continue rigorous training until next year, “in order to consolidate this new capability and ensure that operations take place safely and with a high level of proficiency”.

The acquisition of six UH-60 Black Hawks, largely financed with funds from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), followed the transfer of the State’s own resources for the rural firefighting mission to the management of the Air Force, in 2018.

Subsequently, the Air Force signed, in September last year, another contract for the acquisition of three more UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, bringing the total fleet to nine.

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