Production has officially begun in Poland on two Sikorsky S-70 Firehawk helicopters destined for Czechia, marking the first deployment of the specialized firefighting aircraft in Europe. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin subsidiary PZL Mielec in partnership with Česká letecká servisní and United Rotorcraft, the helicopters are based on the proven Black Hawk platform and configured for aerial firefighting, disaster response, and search-and-rescue operations. Equipped with a 1,000-gallon water tank, retractable snorkel system, twin-engine configuration, and night vision capability, the Firehawk will become a permanent asset within the European RescEU emergency response framework. The collaborative production effort combines airframe manufacturing, mission-system integration, crew training, and long-term sustainment while providing Czech emergency services with operational capabilities comparable to leading US firefighting agencies.
