Lithuania has officially received the first two of four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters ordered from the US in 2020, a package that included additional equipment, spare parts, training, maintenance, and logistics support, with an option for two more aircraft.
In August 2022, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence announced that Lockheed Martin had delivered the helicopters from its factory to a modification facility in Huntsville, Alabama, for further upgrades. While initial deliveries were planned for 2024, they were rescheduled to October 2025, with no explanation provided by the manufacturer or Vilnius.
The US-made Black Hawks will replace Soviet-era Mi-8 helicopters in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, advancing Lithuania’s effort to standardize military equipment with NATO. With a payload capacity of 9,000 pounds (4,082 kilograms), each helicopter can carry up to 12 fully equipped troops and both internal and external loads. According to the ministry, the aircraft “will significantly enhance the military’s combat capability, improve training, and enable peacetime and combat missions to be conducted faster, safer, and more accurately.”
The helicopters will operate from Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania’s central Air Force hub, which has hosted multiple NATO Baltic Air Policing deployments. The acquisition will also boost interoperability with NATO partners operating Black Hawks, including Latvia and Croatia.
