Greece Strengthens Its Hawk Fleet with Acquisition of 35 UH-60M Helicopters
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On October 29, 2024, as part of a foreign military sale, the U.S. government awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, a contract to supply 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the Greek Army. This contract includes not only the delivery of the helicopters but also personnel training, training equipment, and an initial spare parts package. This acquisition aims to enhance Greece’s national defense and improve its interoperability with NATO allies.
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The Greek fleet will benefit from increased uniformity with this new Black Hawk variant, which will join existing S-70B and MH-60R models currently operated by the Hellenic Navy (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)
The UH-60M Black Hawk is a multi-mission combat utility helicopter designed to meet the demands of modern operations. Equipped with an upgraded T700-GE-701D engine and wide-chord rotor blades, it offers enhanced performance, including a cruising speed of 151 knots and improved vertical climb capabilities. Its integrated digital cockpit, featuring multifunction displays and an advanced navigation system, increases pilot situational awareness and reduces workload. Additionally, the Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS) provides real-time diagnostics for higher reliability and predictive maintenance, thereby lowering operating costs.
The UH-60M’s armament and survivability features are optimized for combat and rescue missions, with missile warning and detection systems, active vibration controls, and a robust design for challenging environments. It can transport up to 11 soldiers or a 4,080 kg cargo load via an external hook, making it adaptable for assault missions, medical evacuation, VIP transport, and more. This versatility, combined with improved interoperability with allied forces, positions it as a strategic asset for military operators worldwide.
Hamid Salim, Sikorsky’s vice president of Army and Air Force Systems, highlighted the longstanding collaboration with Greece, noting that these helicopters will enhance Greece’s capability to conduct national security and humanitarian missions. “The Black Hawk provides Greece with operational capabilities and joins a global network of over 5,000 Hawk aircraft operated across 36 countries,” he stated. The Greek fleet will benefit from increased uniformity with this new Black Hawk variant, which will join existing S-70B and MH-60R models currently operated by the Hellenic Navy.
This acquisition is part of a broader Greek defense modernization strategy aimed at enhancing capabilities on land, at sea, and in the air. The UH-60M, renowned for its versatility, is designed for medium transport and multi-role missions, enabling Greece to respond to diverse scenarios, even in challenging environments. Costas Papadopoulos, international development director for Greece at Lockheed Martin, noted that this fleet will complement Greece’s upgraded F-16Vs, new MH-60Rs, as well as existing F-16s, C-130s, and S-70Bs. Greece also plans to acquire F-35s, further bolstering its defensive and deterrent capacities in the region.
Greece will thus become the twelfth European country to operate the Black Hawk, underscoring its role as a prominent multi-role utility helicopter worldwide. This acquisition contributes to a year marked by Sikorsky contracts for delivering 84 UH-60M Black Hawks to countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. In 2024 alone, Sikorsky signed contracts to expand Black Hawk fleets in Austria, Brazil, Sweden, and Thailand, following similar agreements with Croatia, Jordan, and Romania.
This strategic investment decision reflects Greece’s confidence in Lockheed Martin, whose partnership with the country spans over 80 years. Lockheed Martin remains ready to support Greece by delivering advanced capabilities such as F-35s, F-16s, and C-130s to enhance the performance of Greece’s Hawk fleet. This coordinated modernization effort is intended to bolster Greece’s deterrence capabilities and optimize interoperability with its allies.
According to the latest Military Balance report, Greece’s military transport helicopter fleet comprises a range of models suited for various tactical and operational roles. The country currently operates a squadron equipped with UH-60M Black Hawks, expanding its transport capability with multiple variants within the same family, including the S-70A, UH-60L, and the recently acquired MH-60Rs, which are configured for naval missions with the Hellenic Navy.
This fleet is complemented by other transport helicopters such as the Bell 212 (AB-212) and Bell 412EP Twin Huey, along with a VIP squadron of Bo-105 models. The addition of the UH-60M units supports ongoing modernization efforts, enhancing Greece’s ability to conduct troop transport, medical evacuation, and assault missions in challenging environments while reinforcing interoperability with NATO allies.
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On October 29, 2024, as part of a foreign military sale, the U.S. government awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, a contract to supply 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the Greek Army. This contract includes not only the delivery of the helicopters but also personnel training, training equipment, and an initial spare parts package. This acquisition aims to enhance Greece’s national defense and improve its interoperability with NATO allies.
The Greek fleet will benefit from increased uniformity with this new Black Hawk variant, which will join existing S-70B and MH-60R models currently operated by the Hellenic Navy (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)
The UH-60M Black Hawk is a multi-mission combat utility helicopter designed to meet the demands of modern operations. Equipped with an upgraded T700-GE-701D engine and wide-chord rotor blades, it offers enhanced performance, including a cruising speed of 151 knots and improved vertical climb capabilities. Its integrated digital cockpit, featuring multifunction displays and an advanced navigation system, increases pilot situational awareness and reduces workload. Additionally, the Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS) provides real-time diagnostics for higher reliability and predictive maintenance, thereby lowering operating costs.
The UH-60M’s armament and survivability features are optimized for combat and rescue missions, with missile warning and detection systems, active vibration controls, and a robust design for challenging environments. It can transport up to 11 soldiers or a 4,080 kg cargo load via an external hook, making it adaptable for assault missions, medical evacuation, VIP transport, and more. This versatility, combined with improved interoperability with allied forces, positions it as a strategic asset for military operators worldwide.
Hamid Salim, Sikorsky’s vice president of Army and Air Force Systems, highlighted the longstanding collaboration with Greece, noting that these helicopters will enhance Greece’s capability to conduct national security and humanitarian missions. “The Black Hawk provides Greece with operational capabilities and joins a global network of over 5,000 Hawk aircraft operated across 36 countries,” he stated. The Greek fleet will benefit from increased uniformity with this new Black Hawk variant, which will join existing S-70B and MH-60R models currently operated by the Hellenic Navy.
This acquisition is part of a broader Greek defense modernization strategy aimed at enhancing capabilities on land, at sea, and in the air. The UH-60M, renowned for its versatility, is designed for medium transport and multi-role missions, enabling Greece to respond to diverse scenarios, even in challenging environments. Costas Papadopoulos, international development director for Greece at Lockheed Martin, noted that this fleet will complement Greece’s upgraded F-16Vs, new MH-60Rs, as well as existing F-16s, C-130s, and S-70Bs. Greece also plans to acquire F-35s, further bolstering its defensive and deterrent capacities in the region.
Greece will thus become the twelfth European country to operate the Black Hawk, underscoring its role as a prominent multi-role utility helicopter worldwide. This acquisition contributes to a year marked by Sikorsky contracts for delivering 84 UH-60M Black Hawks to countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. In 2024 alone, Sikorsky signed contracts to expand Black Hawk fleets in Austria, Brazil, Sweden, and Thailand, following similar agreements with Croatia, Jordan, and Romania.
This strategic investment decision reflects Greece’s confidence in Lockheed Martin, whose partnership with the country spans over 80 years. Lockheed Martin remains ready to support Greece by delivering advanced capabilities such as F-35s, F-16s, and C-130s to enhance the performance of Greece’s Hawk fleet. This coordinated modernization effort is intended to bolster Greece’s deterrence capabilities and optimize interoperability with its allies.
According to the latest Military Balance report, Greece’s military transport helicopter fleet comprises a range of models suited for various tactical and operational roles. The country currently operates a squadron equipped with UH-60M Black Hawks, expanding its transport capability with multiple variants within the same family, including the S-70A, UH-60L, and the recently acquired MH-60Rs, which are configured for naval missions with the Hellenic Navy.
This fleet is complemented by other transport helicopters such as the Bell 212 (AB-212) and Bell 412EP Twin Huey, along with a VIP squadron of Bo-105 models. The addition of the UH-60M units supports ongoing modernization efforts, enhancing Greece’s ability to conduct troop transport, medical evacuation, and assault missions in challenging environments while reinforcing interoperability with NATO allies.
