Sikorsky to produce additional UH-60Ms for Jordan

Sikorsky is to produce two UH-60M Black Hawks for the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) after a contract valued at $32.8m was awarded to the US-based helicopter manufacturing giant on September 20.

**A Royal Jordanian Armed Forces UH-60 Black Hawk waits for a jump team to board while on a combined jump exercise with US Special Forces in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.** US Army/Sgt 1st Class Lisa Rodriguez-Presley

The Two Black Hawks will complement the current fleet of 12 UH-60Ms operated by 8 Squadron at King Abdullah II Air Base in Jordan. The Jordanian Black Hawk fleet has been in service since 2017 with the 12th Black Hawk being delivered in 2018. Work on the additional two UH-60Ms will be conducted at Sikorsky's facility in Stratford Connecticut, and is expected to be complete by the end of June 2027.

Jordan also operates eight UH-60As under 14 Squadron at Amman-Marka Air Base. These helicopters were acquired second-hand from the US Army and delivered between 2015 and 2016. The Jordanian Black Hawk fleet is completed by three S-70A-11s, which were transferred to the RJAF from the Royal Flight before the end of 2014.