Latvia approves purchase of four Black Hawk helicopters from the US
On Tuesday, September 11, the Latvian government supported the purchase of four UH-60 Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters for 175 million euros and the signing of an intergovernmental agreement with the United States, the Latvian Ministry of Defense reported. This came after the US government approved the sale of the helicopters to Latvia.
According to the Delfi news agency, the government decided to add additional funding of about 80 million euros to the Ministry of Defense’s budget for 2023 and 2024.
The agreement with the US will include not only the purchase of helicopters, but also staff training, purchase of spare parts, technical documentation, support, and an implementation of operating procedures in accordance with US standards. The Latvian army will receive the first helicopters in 2021.
“Helicopter replacement is vital not only for task performed by the National Armed Forces but also for maintenance of civil functions and supporting the society," explained Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis.