Swedish Black Hawks leaves Afghanistan

The last two Swedish HKP 16 Black Hawks have returned to their home base in Linköping, Sweden, following the deployment in Afghanistan. The helicopters were part of a four-ship unit that was engaged in the Swedish Air Element’s medevac alert for the International Security Assistance Force at Camp Marmal.

The Swedish Black Hawks have been active in Afghanistan since March 2013, when they took over after the Swedish HKP 10B Super Pumas that had been used for medical transport since April 2, 2011.

A total of 300 people have been working with the Swedish helicopter units in Afghanistan since 2011. The “SAE ISAF UH-60” unit alone, designated ICEPAC, consisted of approximately 40 people at the time, with people coming and going on a regular basis.

The HKP 16s held their last medevac alert in mid May, and they have now been returned to Sweden in cargo planes. The helicopters are now put on a one-month quarantine before they can get some maintenance and eventually return to national service for the Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing.