Sikorsky, Saab join on UH-60M support

• Tweet

PARIS, June 22 (UPI) -- U.S. company Sikorsky Aerospace Services and Saab of Sweden are supporting UH-60M helicopters recently bought by Sweden's military.

Under the teaming agreement, SAS and Saab will provide logistics support for 15 UH-60M Black Hawks that will be operated by the Swedish air force in Linkoping.

The companies, in an announcement from the Paris Air Show, said the agreement will commence when the first UH-60M is delivered this year.

"We look forward to working with Saab to ensure this powerful aircraft operates at peak readiness rates and enables the Swedish air force to successfully conduct their missions," said David Adler, president of Sikorsky Aerospace Services.

The Swedish air force, which is receiving the UH-60Ms through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales process, intends to use the aircraft for medical evacuation, utility, and search-and-rescue missions.

"This is yet another key step in our efforts regarding maintenance, support and training in the helicopter field," said Lars-Erik Wige, senior vice president and head of Saab Business Unit Support and Services. "Our collaboration with Sikorsky means that we are building up expertise with regard to Sweden's new helicopter system."

The UH-60M helicopter is the latest version in the long and highly successful Black Hawk. It provides additional payload and range, advanced digital avionics, improved handling qualities and situational awareness, active vibration control, and improved survivability compared with the predecessor UH-60L model.