Portugal is restoring its Army aviation capability through the procurement and modernization of UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters sourced from US Army surplus inventories. The program includes extensive refurbishment, structural upgrades, avionics modernization, and installation of mission-specific equipment to support tactical transport, medical evacuation, disaster relief, special operations, humanitarian assistance, and wildfire response. Managed through NATO’s procurement framework, the initiative represents a significant milestone in rebuilding the Portuguese Army’s rotary-wing capability following its disbandment in 2015. Once operational, the upgraded helicopters will substantially improve mobility, emergency response capacity, and military operational flexibility.
