DOPPELADLER.COM

PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company, has received an order for six new-generation S-70M Black Hawk utility helicopters from Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. This first order follows the recent signing of a four-year framework agreement that will see up to 12 Polish-built S-70M Black Hawks supplied to Romania over the next four years.

The first six aircraft, three configured to support maritime and three to support land operations, will be delivered in co-operation with Romaero and DELTAMED during 2023.

The cabin of both the land and maritime Black Hawks will accommodate a medical suite equipped by Cluj-Napoca-based Deltamed, an experienced integrator of emergency vehicles outfitted for patient care and rescue operations.

The Black Hawk, with serial 276 and test registration SP-YVW, flew from PZL Mielec, Poland via Kosice airport (Slovakia) and Cluj-Napoca (Romania) to Bucharest-Băneasa.

The original plan was to acquire twelve Black Hawks, but this number was reduced to seven helicopters. Three will be equipped for searching at sea, three for searching on land and one is destined to be used by the Police.

In the week of 13 to 19 November, three more Black Hawks will be delivered, of which one arrived on 14 November (271/SP-YVP). By the end of this year, the final three are expected for delivery.

Romania is to carry the MBDA Marte Extended Range (ER) anti-ship missile from its soon-to-be-received Airbus H215M helicopters.

The European missile house said on 23 May that it had signed a contract with IAR Brasov to support the integration of the Marte ER onto Romanian Naval Forces H215M helicopters.

News of the contract came months after Airbus Helicopters confirmed to Janes in January that it would supply the Romanian Naval Forces with a pair of H215M helicopters, as per a European Union (EU) notification posted at the time.

“We can confirm that our partner IAR has signed a contract with the Romanian Navy for the H215M, but we have not signed the contract yet on our side with IAR. Negotiations are ongoing,” Airbus Helicopters told Janes on 30 January. While there has been no subsequent contract notification, the MBDA announcement indicates that this sale has now been finalised.