Latvia receives first Black Hawks to replace Soviet Mi-17 helicopters

The Latvian Air Force took delivery of two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters at Lielvārde Air Force Base earlier in December.

This is a long-awaited addition to our military inventory, allowing the Air Force to reach a new level of capability

The first of five landing craft utility (LCU) Mk IX vessels operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy has begun its mid-life upgrade.

The first unit, L 9525, entered dry dock at De Haas Shipyards in Rotterdam on 21 January, according to the Dutch Materiel OrganisationDelivered earlier this month at the Lielvārde Air Force Base, the helicopters are the first of a total of four units ordered by the country in a bid to replace Soviet Mi-17 helicopters, for which spare part were running out of stock.

A US Air Force C-17 transport plane delivered the helicopters, which will now undergo the necessary technical work before scheduled test flights.

“This is a long-awaited addition to our military inventory, allowing the Air Force to reach a new level of capability with the new and modern Black Hawk helicopters and to strengthen interoperability with our allies,” said Colonel Viesturs Masulis, Commander of the Latvian Air Force.

“Five helicopter crews have already been trained and currently the former Mi-17 crews are undergoing conversion training in the US; the initial training phase has ended and we will start using the new helicopters as soon as the first ones are ready for flight.”

The new equipment will help the Latvian Air Force to execute missions in search and rescue or other types of operations. Latvian pilots and technicians have participated in several training courses since 2020 to learn how to operate and maintain the new helicopters.

The Latvian government approved the acquisition of four modern utility helicopters in late 2018 in a cooperation with the United States.

Delivery of the remaining two UH-60Ms is expected at the end of 2023.



"This is a long-awaited addition to our military inventory, allowing the Air Force to reach a new level of capability with the new and modern Black Hawk helicopters and to strengthen interoperability with our Allies," said Colonel Viesturs Masulis, Commander of the Latvian Air Force. "Five helicopter crews have already been trained and currently the former Mi-17 crews are undergoing conversion training in the US; the initial training phase has ended and we will start using the new helicopters as soon as the first ones are ready for flight,” he added.

The Black Hawks will replace the legacy Soviet-built Mi-17 helicopters for which spare part were running out of stock. The new equipment will help the Latvian Air Force to execute missions e.g. in search and rescue or other types of operations.

A US Air Force C-17 transport plane delivered both helicopters to Lielvārde Air Force Base. Upon touchdown, technicians pulled the partially disassembled helicopters into an aircraft hangar, where necessary technical work will be carried out in the coming days to allow proceeding with scheduled test flights.

The Latvian government approved the acquisition of four modern utility helicopters in late 2018 in a cooperation with the United States. Delivery of the remaining two UH-60Ms is expected at the end of 2023. Latvian Air Force pilots and technicians have participated in several training courses since 2020 to learn how to operate and maintain the new helicopters.
Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office based on information provided by the Latvian Ministry of Defence

Source: RIGA, Latvia by NATO News - 27 December 2022

Photo: Latvian Air Force UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters (Photo by NATO)

Editor: Paul Binder (©XAirForces Aerospace Industry News Editor from France / Sweden)

Keywords: Latvia, Latvian Air Force, US Air Force, Lielvārde Air Force Base, Soviet Mi-17 helicopter, UH-60M, Mi-17, US Air Force C-17 transport

2023 01 01 Latvia receives first Black Hawks to replace Soviet Mi-17 helicopters


(1.01.2023)