“Greece Boosts Air Power: Secures 35 Advanced UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters from Lockheed Martin”
The U.S. Government has authorized Sikorsky, a division of Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), a Foreign Military Sale arrangement to supply 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Greece. This agreement includes 35 aircraft for the Hellenic Army, along with personnel training, simulation equipment, and an initial supply kit, which will significantly bolster self-defense and enhance interoperability within the nation and with NATO allies.
“Our partnership with Greece spans many years, and we are thrilled to see the nation’s ongoing trust in Sikorsky helicopters as Greece will gain advantages from an integrated Hawk family of aircraft supporting national defense and humanitarian operations,” remarked Hamid Salim, Sikorsky’s vice president of Army and Air Force Systems. “The Black Hawk helicopter offers Greece a broad spectrum of operational functions and a global network of over 5,000 Hawk aircraft being utilized by 36 nations around the globe.”
“The recently awarded UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters underscore the lasting partnership Lockheed Martin has sustained with Greece, its Armed Forces, and defense industries for more than 80 years,” stated Costas Papadopoulos, international business development executive director for Greece at Lockheed Martin. “The Black Hawk helicopter stands as the dependable backbone of versatile medium lift aircraft and will empower Greece to execute vital operations in the region. These helicopters will augment Greece’s enhanced F-16Vs, new MH-60Rs, existing F-16s, C-130s, and S-70Bs, along with prospective F-35s. This upgraded fleet will empower Greece with superior capabilities for aerial, terrestrial, and maritime operations, fortifying the nation’s security for forthcoming years.”
With its current S-70B fleet and newly acquired MH-60R maritime helicopters for the Hellenic Navy, Greece will utilize various models of the Hawk family, enjoying the operational and maintenance benefits of fleet commonality. The Black Hawk is versatile enough to execute a range of missions over extensive distances and in the most demanding environments, enhancing survivability and overall effectiveness for 21st Century Security® operations.
Building upon Lockheed Martin’s partnership with Greece that has lasted over 80 years, the company is ready to support Greece and provide advanced capabilities such as F-35s, F-16s, and C-130s, alongside Hawk aircraft that will bolster the nation’s deterrence capabilities and enhance interoperability with allied forces.
Greece will become the 12th European nation to operate the Black Hawk helicopter. In 2024, the U.S. Government has assigned Sikorsky contracts to manufacture and deliver a total of 84 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to nations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America, further cementing the Black Hawk’s prominence as the premier multi-role utility helicopter globally. On Oct. 23, Sikorsky also secured UH-60M contract awards to expand the Black Hawk fleets in Austria, Brazil, Sweden, and Thailand. In July, Sikorsky was awarded contracts for Black Hawks in Croatia and Jordan; in June, Romania enhanced its fleet of S-70 Black Hawks, which share the same lineage as the UH-60M.
