Croatia cleared to buy Black Hawks

Croatia has been cleared to buy two Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters to add to the two already set to be donated by the US government.

As the latest variant Black Hawk, the UH-60M will significantly enhance Croatia's helicopter capabilities. (US Army)

The US State Department approval, announced on 30 October, covers a pair of the latest-variant UH-60Ms, along with other equipment, spares, weapons, training and support. The estimated value of the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) is USD115 million.

“The sale of these UH-60 helicopters to Croatia will significantly increase its capability to provide troop lift, border security, counterterrorism, medical evacuation, search and rescue, re-supply/external lift, and combat support. These UH-60 helicopters will allow for interoperability with US and NATO forces in rapid response to a variety of missions and quick positioning of troops with minimal helicopter assets,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

If the proposed sale is approved by Congress, the new helicopters will join a pair of UH-60Ms that will be donated by the US government in 2020. At the time the donation was announced in October 2018, the Croatian Ministry of Defence said the helicopters would be used for airborne assault, air-medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, search and rescue, surveillance, command, troop and cargo transport and, if armed, for firing weapons such as rockets.

As noted by the DSCA, the two new helicopters will be used by Croatia “to modernise its armed forces and expand its existing army architecture in its efforts to provide multi-mission support in the region as well as combat terrorist threats.”

As the most modern variant of the Black Hawk helicopter, the UH-60M incorporates more powerful and reliable General Electric T700-GE-701D engines, enhanced rotor blades and a fully digital 'glass' cockpit.