Firefighting operations, rescue flights, special services and foreign missions have been the daily bread of our Black Hawk crews for two decades – the “Krone” visited them at the Brumowski Air Base in Langenlebarn.
The avalanche catastrophe in Galtür in February 1999, which killed 38 people, mercilessly exposed the decades-long underfunding of the federal army by politicians. Because the army lacked heavy transport helicopters, the German Bundeswehr and units of the American armed forces stationed in Germany had to deploy their helicopters in support of Tyrol.
As a result of this disaster, the State Defense Council approved on April 12, 1999, about two months after the Galtür disaster, the purchase of a squadron of medium to heavy armed multi-purpose helicopters. The original plan was to purchase a maximum of twelve helicopters, with nine firm orders and only options for three more. According to the tender, the machines should have a transport capacity of 3 to 4.5 tons, the purchase costs of 2.5 to 3.5 billion Schilling had to be 100 percent offset by barter transactions.
Several manufacturers have submitted their type offers
In a closed tender procedure, the Ministry of Defense has asked the manufacturers Sikorsky, Agusta, EH Industries, NH Industries and Eurocopter to make an offer by 17 September 1999 at the latest. Sikorsky offered the S-70A Black Hawk, which US forces had already successfully used at Galtür, Agusta the AB 412, EH Industries the EH101, NH Industries the NH-90 TTH and Eurocopter the AS532 Cougar. In addition, two Russian manufacturers have made unsolicited offers.
Black Hawk qualifies as the best cartridge
With the remaining types quickly eliminated, the AS532 Cougar and Black Hawk went head to head, with Sikorsky coming out victorious.
The first Black Hawk arrived in Austria on September 21, 2002. The nine machines are stationed at Brumowski Air Base in Langenlebarn near Tulln.
Since then, the “Black Falcons” have had to prove themselves in thousands of operations at home and abroad. “In the past 20 years we have flown about 30,000 hours. That’s equivalent to 160 orbits around the world,” said Lt. Col. Josef R., squadron commander.
The last major test was the forest fire operation in Hirschwang an der Rax in autumn 2021, in which two Black Hawks were deployed for two weeks.
And because the type has proven itself so well, the existing fleet will be expanded with three more machines from 2024.
Technical specifications
The Sikorsky Black Hawk is the largest helicopter of the Austrian armed forces. It can carry up to 22 people in seats. External loads of up to 4000 kilograms can be transported. Also on board: a rescue winch. The top speed of the helicopter is 360 km/h. The maximum range – with additional external tanks – is 1600 kilometers.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
