Nine S70 Black Hawk helicopters are currently in use by the Austrian military, three more will be used in the coming year, but then another twelve will go to the Austrian Air Force: Defense Minister Claudia Tanner (OVP) surprised by the purchase of this additional squadron Are interviewed with APA. The expenditure of this huge additional investment in the army’s flight readiness is stipulated in the current development plan for 2032: the total package for the purchase of an additional twelve S70 Black Hawk machines should reach an amount of approximately 720 million euros.
The Army is fully satisfied with the nine multi-role helicopters that have been in service since 2002: With the S-70A-42 Black Hawk, the Army operates one of the most advanced helicopter types currently available. It is extremely powerful, sturdy and easy to maintain. The Austrian Black Hawks are already achieving a standard that, for example, US Army helicopters will be able to do in only a few years.
The Black Hawk is 15.43 meters long, reaches a maximum speed of 360 km/h (cruising speed is around 280 km/h) and can carry 20 fully equipped soldiers.
In addition to the new Black Hawks, the army will also receive 18 new multi-purpose helicopters of the Italian type Leonardo AW169M (eXXpress reports): the total cost of these Leonardos will be 300 million euros, the first ones are already in use in Austria.
