Stratford’s Sikorsky Aircraft is building 15 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the Swedish military on an accelerated 18-month production schedule, United Press International reports.
Production began in May and seven aircraft are being delivered to the U.S. Army by December, with eight more deliveries to be made through the fall of next year, Sikorsky said.
Sweden’s military procurement office is obtaining the 15 aircraft through the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program.
Sikorsky said accelerated production will allow Sweden’s military to deploy three Black Hawks to Afghanistan in early 2013 for medical evacuation, utility, and search-and-rescue missions.
Sweden is the first European country to acquire the U.S. Army’s M model of the Black Hawk — the latest variant — which entered into service with the U.S. Army in 2007. The aircraft for Sweden feature an advanced flight control system, full night vision device capability and a state-of-the-art communications.
Modifications for Sweden will be performed by the U.S. Army. Among them: an exterior rescue hoist, gunner seats, armored floor, stackable litters, a cockpit heater and environmental control system.
Earlier this week, Sikorsky announced from the Dubai Air Show receipt of a Saudi contract to upgrade and extend the service life of the Mideast nation’s fleet of older Black Hawk helicopters. Sikorsky did not specify the contract’s dollar terms.
