The Portuguese Army has launched a tender for the supply of 3 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for its reborn aviation unit1. The procurement of the helicopters is being done via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
The process of acquiring helicopters via NSPA started in March when a Future Business Opportunity was announced2, the tender phase was at the time to commence in June; this ,however, did not happen.
The Portuguese tender calls for 3 retrofitted helicopters, with a contract option for a 4th, the documentation states that they must be at minimum the UH-60L variant.
A series of support equipment is to also be procured, to allowing the helicopters to support ground troops, conduct evacuation of wounded soldiers and fight forest fires.
Regarding weapons, the contractor is to supply 6x on-board door mounted FN M3M machineguns, with the option for two more, 2x on-board door mounted M240 machine guns, with the option for two more, and an external gun mount system. The EGMS kit shall include the capability for 2x FN M3M machine guns, 2x 70mm rocket pods, a sponson sensor mount for MEDEVAC and SAR and 1x FLIR system.
For medical evacuations, one MEDEVAC system kit is to be supplied, it must include two litters, 1x medical equipment/ environmental Control System, a rescue hoist and a search light.
To fight forest fires each helicopter will get a firefighting kit, composed of 1x 2000L bamby bucket, 1x 2950L bamby bucket and an external basket to carry said buckets.
Lastly each Blackhawk will have installed a fast rope insertion kit (FRIES) and external cargo system.
Deliveries of the helicopters are to commence in 2026, the first shall be delivered in the 3rd quarter of that year, the second in the 2nd quarter of 2027 and the third in the 2nd quarter of 2028.
The purchase of these Blackhawk helicopters has a budget of 40.8 million euros that was approved in October of 20243.
The rebirth of the Army’s aviation unit started in 2023 with the approval of the new Military Programming Law4 in which a 50 million euro budget was allocated to the branch for its new program, named “Support, Protection and Evacuation Helicopters” [Helicópteros de Apoio, Proteção e Evacuação (HAPE)].
The Army’s aviation unit will be named Unidade de Helicópteros de Apoio, Proteção e Evacuação and will be stationed in Tancos. In addition the UHAPE is expected to grow to a total of 12 Blackhawk helicopters5.
Sources:
3: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/despacho/12269-2024-891107866
4: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei-organica/1-2023-219991254