Slovak Armed Forces expand Black Hawk fleet to 11 aircraft

The Slovak Armed Forces have expanded their fleet of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to a total of 11 following the arrival of two new aircraft, numbered 7469 and 7470. The helicopters landed at Kuchyňa airport before being transferred to the 51st Helicopter Wing in Prešov.

These new units feature a distinct protrusion on the nose, which typically houses an optoelectronic system such as a Talon FLIR. This system includes infrared cameras, laser rangefinders, and markers to assist in various operations. The acquisition follows a 2015 contract for nine helicopters via the United States' Foreign Military Sales program.

Beyond military duties, the Black Hawk is utilized for domestic crisis management, including forest fire suppression, flood response, and search and rescue missions. The aircraft can carry up to 2,500 liters of water using a Bambi bucket and features an onboard crane for rapid deployment of firefighters. Additionally, a specialized platform allows for the evacuation of up to ten civilians at once during emergency extractions.