An Air Force general confirmed Chile has decided to buy a half-dozen Black Hawk helicopters. Most negotiations already are worked out and only the final details are pending. FACh is
acquiring the Sikorsky S70i, the export version of the Black Hawk military configuration. The new helicopters are part of a process that started seven years ago to replace aged Bell UH-1H copters. In 2007, FACh acquired a dozen Bell 412EP to begin the modernization of its rotorcraft. Even before then, the Air Force acquired a single S60 Black Hawk that operates in the less-accessible regions of southern Chile. Details on cost, deliveries and electronic equipment of the new Black Hawks were not disclosed. Earlier this year, Air Force officials said they were
looking for a helicopter model with in-flight refueling booms, advanced navigation systems and other equipment for combat search and rescue missions. Besides training missions, the most important roles for FACh helicopters are civilian search and rescue and disaster aid.
Update: The order has been increased to eight Black Hawks, according to a report.
2 comments:
Are the helicopters coming out Poland or Connecticut? Will they have wild fire fighting capabilities? I believe they should, though is not the role of the airforce to fight wild fires.
They will be built in Poland. And, yes, one of the intended roles is fire fighting.
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