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A pair of new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters have arrived in Sydney as part of the latest delivery for the Australian Defence Force.
The latest delivery by United States Air Force C17 Globemaster III aircraft at RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney in July brings the Australian Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk fleet to eight.
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A total of 12 new Lockheed Martin-built helicopters are scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year. All 40 aircraft are scheduled for delivery by 2029.
“Australia continues to receive extraordinary levels of support from the United States Government and United States Army to deliver the Black Hawk capability,” according to Defence.
“The UH-60M Black Hawk fleet will be based out of Oakey, Queensland and Holsworthy, New South Wales.”
Australia will acquire 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the Australian Army, under a 2023 foreign military sales case with the US.
Each UH-60M utility helicopter can reportedly support 9,979kg in maximum gross weight and 12 fully equipped, seated troops. Other versions include combat assault, medical evacuation, aerial firefighting, search and rescue, special operations, and VIP transport.
In October last year, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles met with US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J Austin III, at the Pentagon to discuss the US–Australia alliance, the Black Hawk transfer and other foreign policy topics.
“The future of our relationship, and especially our defence cooperation, looks brighter than ever. We share a vision with our friends across the Indo-Pacific of a region that is free, open, and secure. And we’re committed to making that vision a reality,” US Secretary Austin said at the time.
Following that meeting, both countries affirmed their commitment to further deepen defence cooperation and accelerate delivery of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
Minister Marles said Australia is enormously grateful to the US for speeding the delivery of the Black Hawks.
“This is something that we really appreciate, and is again, an example of America standing up in a moment which we really need it,” he said.
