中華台灣福爾摩沙國防軍

珍氏年鑑報導,台灣已經向美國提出增購24架UH-60M的意向書,這數量應該是補空騎少掉的15架與海鷗換裝的數量.

Taiwan orders additional Black Hawk helos

The Republic of China Army (RoCA) has exercised an option for a further 24 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters modified to Taiwan army and National Airborne Service Corps configurations, it was disclosed on 1 September.

The procurement, which was announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD), will see the modified helicopters delivered to the RoCA by 8 October 2018. Sikorsky has been awarded USD135.4 million to deliver the helicopters to a "uniquely configured" standard. The award value and the number of helicopters give a unit cost of USD5.6 million per helicopter. Given that a fully configured Black Hawk is typically worth upwards of USD20 million, it is likely that this is an initial agreement to exercise the option with follow-on contracts to follow.

Taiwan has signed for a total of 60 UH-60Ms at a cost of USD3.1 billion, with these 24 new helicopters forming part of that wider order. The first four platforms arrived in-country in December 2014, with deliveries ongoing in batches of seven.

While the contract announcement does not disclose details of the RoCA configuration, a previously issued US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification revealed it to include the standard General Electric T-700-GE-701D engines, AN/APR-39A(V)2 radar warning receivers, AN/ALQ-144A(V)1 infrared countermeasure sets, AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems, AN/AVR-2B laser detecting sets, GAU-19/A 12.7 mm Gatling guns, and Po-Sheng communication/datalink systems. In addition, AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles are also being supplied.

The UH-60Ms will replace the Bell UH-1 'Huey', which has been in Taiwanese service since 1969. It has previously been reported that 15 of the 60 UH-60Ms on order will be allocated to the country's Interior Ministry's National Airborne Service for use in disaster relief and emergency operations. As well as the 60 UH-60Ms to be fielded by the army, the air force operates 16 S-70C Black Hawks in the search-and-rescue role (Black Hawks sold under the Foreign Military Sales programme receive the US Army's UH-60 designation, while those sold via Direct Commercial Sale get the Sikorsky S-70 designation instead).