Back to news

November 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Lithuania signs for Black Hawk helos

by Gareth Jennings

Lithuania signed for four Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk transport and utility helicopters on 13 November, the country's Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced.

The USD213 million procurement, which will be paid off over five years, includes additional equipment, spares, and a training, repair, and logistical support package. The US government is providing USD30 million to support the purchase, and has cleared the sale of a further two helicopters should the Lithuanian Armed Forces request them.

“The decision to pass on to a modern western technology that meets all criteria and requirements was made in order to ensure proper readiness of armed forces to face the challenges of modern armed conflicts, as well as excellent compatibility and interoperability with allies. The new platform will fully substitute for the [Mil] Mi-8Ts currently used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The Soviet-made helicopter fleet is in its thirties, and its airworthiness has come to the deadline, its operation is also difficult: expensive maintenance, prone to failures, risky repair because of complicated provision of spares from Russia,” the MND said.

News of the contract came some four months after the US State Department approved the sale to Lithuania of six Black Hawks for USD380 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification on 6 July followed an announcement by the MND in late 2019 that the country was to begin negotiations with the US government to acquire the Black Hawks to replace three Soviet-made Mi-8 ‘Hips' and three French-built Aerospatiale AS365 N3+ Dauphins.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lithuania-signs-for-black-hawk-helos

On the same subject

  • A new leader for naval intelligence

    June 17, 2020 | International, Naval, C4ISR

    A new leader for naval intelligence

    Mark Pomerleau The Navy announced new leaders for its various information warfare entities June 6, including a new officer to lead the service's information warfare efforts. Rear Adm. Jeffrey Trussler has been selected as the Navy's next deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare, N2/N6 and director of naval intelligence, according to a Department of Defense release. Trussler, who will also get his third star, replaces Vice Adm. Matthew Kohler, who retired June 5 Under a new reorganization within the Department of the Navy, this position also serves as the co-deputy chief information officer in conjunction with the Marine Corps deputy commandant for information. Trussler recently served as the director of future plans, N55, in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. During his tenure, Kohler helped develop new concepts to modernize the Navy for the information environment, including overseeing the creation of the Naval Information Warfighting Development Center. That center trains warfare tactics instructors (WTIs), which is what the Navy describes as its information warfare “top guns.” Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael Vernazza, who is currently serving as the deputy commander of 10th Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command, has been selected to leader the IWDC, according to a second June 6 announcement. https://www.c4isrnet.com/information-warfare/2020/06/16/a-new-leader-for-naval-intelligence/

  • Australia's coating center aims to achieve enhanced stealth for F-35

    August 18, 2023 | International, Aerospace

    Australia's coating center aims to achieve enhanced stealth for F-35

    $100M project is underway to build an aircraft-coating facility at the Royal Australian Air Force base in Williamtown. The facility will apply a special coating

  • Airbus et Dassault Aviation ont remis une offre sur l’avion de combat européen SCAF

    April 6, 2021 | International, Aerospace

    Airbus et Dassault Aviation ont remis une offre sur l’avion de combat européen SCAF

    Le cabinet de la ministre des Armées, Florence Parly, a confirmé, vendredi 2 avril, avoir reçu « une offre » de la part des principaux industriels concernés par la deuxième étape de développement du système de combat aérien du futur (SCAF), indiquent Reuters, La Tribune et Le Monde. « Les Etats ont reçu une offre des industriels concernés pour la réalisation d'un démonstrateur d'un nouvel avion de combat, dans le cadre du projet de système de combat aérien du futur », précise le ministère des Armées. Le ministère indique que les négociations se poursuivent entre les industriels et les Etats sur l'ensemble du projet SCAF. Reuters, La Tribune, Le Monde et L'Usine Nouvelle du 6 avril

All news