HKP 16 Black Hawk handed over
Jan 17, 2012
Following a record-breaking acquisition process of the Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, the aircraft was officially handed over to the Armed Forces Helicopter Wing by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) earlier today. The medium-heavy helicopter system was handed over to the Swedish Supreme Commander (ÖB) Sverker Göransson by FMV's Director General Gunnar Holmgren in a ceremony at the Malmen Helicopter Base in Linköping.
Delayed deliveries of other helicopter systems and the ongoing Swedish intervention in Afghanistan has caused a shortfall of helicopters to meet the increased demand for medical evacuations. As a result of these circumstances the Swedish Government decided that Sweden was going to incorporate a new medium-weight helicopter system in addition to the 18 NH90s (HKP 14) that were already ordered and partially delivered. The helicopters will be operational in Afghanistan by the second quarter of 2013.
The Armed Forces Helicopter Wing has a little more than a year to make the well proven Black Hawk system fully operational. The training of pilots, crews and technicians has already been initiated and the national flying will now be commenced.