The Portuguese Air Force has received two Leonardo AW119 Koala helicopters and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters during a ceremony in Ovar.
The two AW119 Koala helicopters will join the existing fleet Squadron 552 to fight rural fires, through surveillance and projection of forces on the ground.
As for the UH-60 Black Hawks, they are intended for air combat and the projection of forces on the ground. These two helicopters are the first of a total of six, and the fleet is expected to be complete by 2026.
UH-60 Black Hawk
The UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-lift twin-engine utility helicopter. Its basic crew consists of two pilots, carries up to 12 passengers in the cabin and has a drop capacity of 2950L of water. With a flight autonomy of 2h30, it has a range of 555 km and reaches a top speed of 314 km/h.
AW119 Koala
The AW119 Koala is an extremely versatile single-engine helicopter, fulfilling a wide range of missions, such as: patrol and observation in support of rural firefighting, basic and advanced flight instruction, search and rescue and health evacuations. It has the capacity to carry up to seven passengers (in addition to the pilot), a stretcher and five passengers, or 1400 kg in suspended cargo.
📌The Portuguese Air Force (@fap_pt) has received two Leonardo (@Leonardo_live) AW119 Koala helicopters and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters during a ceremony in Ovar.
🔗https://t.co/suXUN4E8eH pic.twitter.com/oVGUVzVhMz— Defensehere (@defensehere_en) November 23, 2023
