Portugal is rebuilding its military aviation capability through the acquisition and modernization of UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters obtained from surplus US Army inventories. Managed through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, the programme includes refurbishment, avionics modernization, and mission-specific upgrades before delivery. Once operational, the helicopters will support troop transport, casualty evacuation, disaster response, special operations, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and wildfire suppression. Featuring twin General Electric engines, enhanced lifting capacity, and proven battlefield reliability, the UH-60L provides Portugal with a highly versatile rotary-wing platform while re-establishing an Army aviation capability that has been absent since 2015.
