An Australian Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk prepares to take off from Holsworthy Barracks, New South Wales, in February 2024. (Commonwealth of Australia)
The Australian Army's Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks have achieved initial operating capability (IOC), the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has announced.
Australia currently has 12 Black Hawks in service. “The IOC ensures the 12 Black Hawks are able to support counter-terrorism operations in Australia and remediate capability gaps associated with the withdrawal from service of the MRH90 Taipan fleet,” the DoD said in a statement on 19 February.
The DoD added that the fleet's essential testing, evaluation, and training activities were completed 15 months after the first aircraft commenced flight operations in 2023. The completion of these activities has “occurred alongside the establishment of a robust fleet support and maintenance system”, the DoD said.
As of September 2024 Australia had received 10 UH-60M helicopters. Janes has previously reported that in 2024 the aircraft were being used in support of Australian Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) 1st and 2nd commando regiments, which are tasked with domestic counter-terrorism roles.
Janes understands that two additional UH-60Ms were delivered to Australia in November 2024 to increase the fleet strength to the current number of 12. The fleet is currently in service with the Australian Army's 6th Aviation Regiment at Holsworthy Barracks, New South Wales. The DoD said it has planned to expand the fleet into Oakey, Queensland, in 2025.
As of March 2024 the fleet had completed 350 flying hours within Australia, according to the DoD. However, the delivery of nine additional Black Hawks in 2024 allowed Australia to escalate flying activities. By October the fleet had conducted over 1,400 flying hours, Janes has previously reported.
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