Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Department of Emergency Situations, has awarded PZL Mielec a contract to procure an additional new-generation Black Hawk utility helicopter for emergency and firefighting services.

This additional aircraft will join Romania’s fleet of European manufactured Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk utility helicopters, currently providing maritime and land search and rescue, firefighting, transport and medical emergency support. In 2023, Romania received seven S-70M helicopters as part of a framework agreement for up to twelve Polish-built S-70M Black Hawks. With this additional aircraft, the fleet of S-70M helicopters will grow to eight.

“This Polish-built S-70M Black Hawk will further extend the reach of the existing Romanian Black Hawk fleet and supports Romania in its commitment to contribute to strengthening European preparedness for disasters,” said Dennis Goege, vice president of Lockheed Martin in Central and Eastern Europe. “These new-generation aircraft will be a long-standing asset for Romania, offering enhanced features and flight safety to its high-payload role, as demonstrated worldwide, but especially by firefighting forces in the United States.”

Romania made this purchase funded by European Union RescEU funds, part of the European Civil protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations created to fund, among other items, a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters.