Seen in US Army service, the UH-60 Black Hawk might soon be operated by Kosovo also. (US Department of Defense)
Kosovo is in the process of acquiring Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the United States, the acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, informed national media on 27 November.
Announced while attending the celebration to mark the Day of the Kosovo Security Force (Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës: KSF), the disclosure by the minister contained no further details on numbers, timelines, or contract value.
“We are in the process of receiving Black Hawk helicopters from the US. It is time to thank our NATO partners, especially the US, who stand by us, even with equipment, weapons, and extensive training,” he said.
Kurti’s comments followed those made in January by Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci during a visit to the Black Hawk manufacturing plant in the US. He said at that time that Washington had given Kosovo the green light for the third phase of the KSF transition that aims to turn the lightly armed primarily crisis-response force into a fully capable army of 5,000 soldiers that would require more advanced systems, including UH-60 helicopters and air-defence radars.
Neither Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky nor the US government has so far commented on the prospective acquisition of Black Hawks by Kosovo, although it is realistic to expect that the small Balkan country could be a potential market for at least six UH-60 helicopters that would become the KSF’s first manned aircraft. It would serve in various roles, including for troop and cargo transport, search-and-rescue, and aerial firefighting missions.
For more information on the KSF, please see Kosovo inducts Skydagger quadcopters from Türkiye
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