Due to the ongoing pandemic the supply of Black Hawk helicopters to Latvian national armed forces will be delayed, as reported to Saeima’s Defense, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee by the commander of Latvia’s army Leonids Kalnins on November 3.
It is planned the first Black Hawk will be delivered to Latvia at the end of 2022 and the next two in 2023. The last one will be supplied in 2024, Kalnins reported.
The commander of the armed forces did not deny that suppliers explained delays with the ongoing pandemic.
Commander of Latvian Air Force Viesturs Masulis said that the contract signed with USA regarding the supply of Black Hawk helicopters initially provided for receiving the first two helicopters until the end of 2022 and the other two until the end of 2023.
Masulis said that Latvia’s army planned to continue using the four existing Mi-17 helicopters until the end of 2025. The Ministry of Defense will decide what to do with them after 2025. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
