Latest news with #BlackHawks
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
India joins bilateral military exercise in Australia
India, along with 18 other nations, is participating in Talisman Sabre 2025, a major bilateral military drill led by Australia that commenced on Sunday (July 13, 2025). Now in its 11th iteration, the Talisman Sabre is the largest and most sophisticated warfighting exercise ever conducted in Australia, the Department of Defence, Australia, said in a statement. The exercise unites more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations. 'Over the next three weeks, more than 35,000 military personnel from Australia and partnering nations will deploy across Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and Christmas Island [in Australia]. For the first time, activities will also be conducted outside of Australia in Papua New Guinea,' the statement said. In addition to the U.S., military forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the U.K. would join as partners. Malaysia and Vietnam will attend as observers. This edition of the military exercise would consist of live-fire exercises and field training activities, incorporating force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, and air combat and maritime operations. It will also feature a range of new Australian Defence Force capabilities, including UH-60M Black Hawks and the Precision Strike Missile. Vice-Admiral Justin Jones, the Chief of Joint Operations, Royal Australian Navy, will join Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, for the official opening at Garden Island, Sydney, Australia.
Vancouver Sun
03-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
It's not 'elbows up' approach as RCMP renews contracts for American helicopters, industry association says
OTTAWA — The RCMP has renewed the contracts for three Black Hawk helicopters to patrol the Canada-U.S. border, despite accusations by the industry association that the contracts are the opposite of the government's 'elbows up' approach and that the choppers don't meet the government's own safety regulations. RCMP spokesman Andrew DiRienzo confirmed that the federal police has decided to rehire the three helicopters for at least the next three months. The contracts for the second-hand helicopters, purchased by private contractors after the U.S. military decided to update much of its own fleet, kicked in on Canada Day. The new contracts follow a National Post investigation that revealed that four Black Hawks were purchased by Canadian contractors who then signed patrolling contracts with the RCMP for three of them. The other was hired by the Alberta government. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The existing RCMP contracts for three of the choppers, worth an estimated $16 million, expired June 30. Documents showed that the Canadian helicopter industry had accused Ottawa of breaking its own rules, for example, by allowing the used choppers to carry passengers or even flying over developed areas. The Black Hawks have been used mostly to patrol the border in search of illegal migrants, drug smugglers and other illicit activities. Trevor Mitchell, chief executive of the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC), said he was very surprised that the RCMP would sign another contract to lease the American Black Hawks, while Canadian manufacturers offer rival products that can do at least as good a job. 'I can't see how any of this transpires into an elbows-up policy, or a Canada-first policy.' According to the government's Canadian Civil Aircraft Register, the four Sikorsky Black Hawk UH 60As were imported into Canada between 2022 and last year. They were granted highly unusual special exemptions by Transport Canada that, according to a series of letters to senior government officials from the Canadian helicopter association, allowed the four choppers to do non-military jobs in Canadian air space. In a March 20 letter to Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, the association said even the conditions attached to the exemptions have not been followed. 'We urge you to direct your department to ensure the safety restrictions attached to these aircraft are strictly enforced for the balance of the RCMP's contract and that the Force be urged to select a certified aircraft before the contract expires.' HAC also says that the twin-engine Black Hawks didn't come with 'type certificates,' which act like recipe books for new owners in that they provide details about the aircraft's parts and how it should be maintained. Freeland has not responded to interview requests on this subject for the last three weeks. A spokesperson has not responded to specific questions but instead released a prepared statement that emphasized the importance of safety. The statement also said that the exemptions from Transport Canada allowed the aircraft to operate in Canada in specialized roles 'subject to strict conditions,' such as not being allowed to carry fare-paying passengers or cargo. Despite its reluctance to discuss the matter, the federal government is well aware of the situation involving the Black Hawks and the industry's concerns. In the spring of 2024, following interactions with HAC, former Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez directed his officials to pause the issuing of special exemptions for the Black Hawks. But in September of that year, Rodriguez resigned from the federal cabinet to run for leader of the Quebec Liberal party. He was replaced at Transport for about seven months by Anita Anand, now the Foreign Affairs minister. She was then replaced in the new year by Chrystia Freeland, after Mark Carney became prime minister. Neither Anand nor Freeland has clarified the government's view of the situation or publicly commented on the special exemptions for the Black Hawks. Although the Black Hawk contracts pre-date the re-election earlier this year of U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada's enhanced border patrol is in sync with the White House's escalation of concern about illegal migrants and illegal drugs entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and elsewhere. But it's not like there aren't other – even domestic – options beyond Black Hawks. Mitchell says Canada has about 200 companies that offer helicopter services and pilots to fly them. Their collective fleets comprise about 1,700 choppers, many of which might be better suited than Black Hawks for patrol duties because they're smaller and equipped with infra-red cameras that allow them to work in the dark. The military and the RCMP also have their own fleets. But if the RCMP's own helicopters weren't enough, Mitchell said, it would have no problem finding private contractors to help them patrol. Helicopters are valued for their versatility and mobility. In Canada, they're mostly used for search and rescue, fighting forest fires, helping combat floods, and commercial applications in remote areas such as mining and electrical lines. But five-seat helicopters are typically used for patrol because they're more nimble and cheaper to operate than a larger, 14-seater such as Sikorsky's Black Hawk. According to a February 10 letter by HAC to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, the choppers have not been approved by Canadian or American authorities for civilian purposes. The RCMP's Black Hawk contracts overlap with Carney's vow to increase Canada's military spending so that it reaches the NATO target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Carney has also vowed to do more to support Canadian business and to rely less on the U.S. Industry sources say the older Black Hawks were selling in recent months for about $1 million each, as the market became flooded with supply. The market for used helicopters has grown in recent years as the U.S. military has modernized its fleet, including the purchase of a newer model of Black Hawks, called the UH-60M. That has pushed a number of older, but still functional Black Hawks to the second-hand market. Prices of new and used aircraft vary widely, depending on a range of factors. But a new five-seat helicopter, including those made in Canada, sells for about $6.5 million, while a new 14-seater, similar in size to the Black Hawks, goes for about $12 million. Bell Textron, a subsidiary of Fort Worth, Tex.-based Textron, makes commercial helicopters at its Mirabel, Que. facilities. Its lineup of models includes the Bell 412, which could be used for border patrol. Airbus Helicopters Canada, formerly MBB Helicopter Canada, has a 300-employee site at Fort Erie, Ont. That location focuses largely on sales, repair, engineering and composite manufacturing. The Black Hawk, made by Sikorsky Aircraft, is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift chopper in the 'military utility' product niche. Stratford, Conn.-based Sikorsky was founded by the Russian-American aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923. Carney, meanwhile, issued a statement earlier this month saying that Canada plans to boost its defence spending by $9.3 billion to $54.3 billion. The money will be used on a range of items, including submarines, ships, armoured vehicles and aircraft, as well as new drones and sensors for monitoring the Arctic and seafloor. In the government's latest signal that it intends to create some distance from the U.S. since Trump imposed a wide range of debilitating tariffs on Canadian exports, Carney said Canada wants to reduce how much of its defence budget goes to purchases of American equipment. The prime minister has said that about 75 per cent of Canada's capital spending on defence heads to the U.S. National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
03-07-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
It's not 'elbows up' approach as RCMP renews contracts for American helicopters, industry association says
OTTAWA — The RCMP has renewed the contracts for three Black Hawk helicopters to patrol the Canada-U.S. border, despite accusations by the industry association that the contracts are the opposite of the government's 'elbows up' approach and that the choppers don't meet the government's own safety regulations. Article content RCMP spokesman Andrew DiRienzo confirmed that the federal police has decided to rehire the three helicopters for at least the next three months. The contracts for the second-hand helicopters, purchased by private contractors after the U.S. military decided to update much of its own fleet, kicked in on Canada Day. Article content Article content The new contracts follow a National Post investigation that revealed that four Black Hawks were purchased by Canadian contractors who then signed patrolling contracts with the RCMP for three of them. The other was hired by the Alberta government. Article content Documents showed that the Canadian helicopter industry had accused Ottawa of breaking its own rules, for example, by allowing the used choppers to carry passengers or even flying over developed areas. The Black Hawks have been used mostly to patrol the border in search of illegal migrants, drug smugglers and other illicit activities. Article content Trevor Mitchell, chief executive of the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC), said he was very surprised that the RCMP would sign another contract to lease the American Black Hawks, while Canadian manufacturers offer rival products that can do at least as good a job. 'I can't see how any of this transpires into an elbows-up policy, or a Canada-first policy.' Article content Article content According to the government's Canadian Civil Aircraft Register, the four Sikorsky Black Hawk UH 60As were imported into Canada between 2022 and last year. They were granted highly unusual special exemptions by Transport Canada that, according to a series of letters to senior government officials from the Canadian helicopter association, allowed the four choppers to do non-military jobs in Canadian air space. Article content Article content In a March 20 letter to Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, the association said even the conditions attached to the exemptions have not been followed. 'We urge you to direct your department to ensure the safety restrictions attached to these aircraft are strictly enforced for the balance of the RCMP's contract and that the Force be urged to select a certified aircraft before the contract expires.' Article content HAC also says that the twin-engine Black Hawks didn't come with 'type certificates,' which act like recipe books for new owners in that they provide details about the aircraft's parts and how it should be maintained.
Calgary Herald
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Ottawa in 'serious breach' in allowing used choppers to patrol border, industry says
Article content But it's not like there aren't other — even domestic — options beyond Black Hawks. Article content Mitchell says Canada has about 200 companies that offer helicopter services and pilots to fly them. Their collective fleets comprise about 1,700 choppers, many of which might be better suited than Black Hawks for patrol duties because they're smaller and equipped with infra-red cameras that allow them to work in the dark. Article content Governments in Canada, mostly large municipalities, also own about a dozen helicopters. The military and the RCMP also have their own fleets. Article content If the RCMP's own helicopters weren't enough, Mitchell said, it would have no problem finding private contractors to help them patrol. Article content John Arquilla, a long-time defence analyst based in Monterey, Calif., said Black Hawks are mostly used to transport soldiers and other personnel but are considered 'utility' aircraft because of their flexibility. But Black Hawks aren't ideal for patrolling borders, he said, because they're expensive to operate, have limited range and can easily be heard as they approach. Article content Article content Arquilla said the broader problem with using Black Hawks to patrol a massive area such as the Canada-U.S. border is that they would have little effect, particularly compared to a cheaper, more effective technology such as drones. Article content 'I view the whole idea of patrolling borders with helicopters skeptically.' Article content Despite being unwilling to agree to an interview, the RCMP seems to acknowledge that critics of the Black Hawk contracts have valid points. In a Feb. 27 letter to HAC, Commissioner Mike Duheme wrote: 'I acknowledge your concerns with respect to the Blackhawk helicopters and would like to inform you that the RCMP is working with Transport Canada to review the current restrictions from a law enforcement context.' Article content Article content In that same letter, Duheme confirmed that the 'Black Hawks in question became operational in mid-January and are conducting surveillance patrols along the border.' He also explains that the Black Hawks are being used to complement the RCMP's existing fleet of nine helicopters, six of which provide border surveillance and support with cameras capable of thermal imaging, while one is capable of any necessary hoisting. Article content Article content While the RCMP wouldn't agree in recent days to an interview, the force was keen just a few months ago to publicize its new access to the Black Hawks and the enhanced capabilities that were to come with them. Article content In an interview conducted with a television network next to one of the Black Hawks, an RCMP official confirmed that the helicopters were leased with a crew and that the choppers were designed to boost capacity. 'It's really about the ability to move people quickly,' Mathieu Bertrand, the RCMP's Director General of Federal Policing and Border Integrity, told the reporter. 'Things happen quickly on the border.' Article content The issue of certifying the privately-owned Black Hawks has also been a topic of interest at Transport Canada for many months. Article content According to a June, 2024 internal departmental bulletin obtained by National Post, transport was to stop considering applications for 'special certificates of airworthiness' that month. The document warns of increased interest among Canadian operators in using aircraft with the special certificates and that 'this may represent a significant change in the risk environment.' Article content Transport Canada is responsible for the country's transportation policies and programs. The department, known for its emphasis on safety of Canada's road, rail, marine and aviation networks, says it promotes safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation. Article content While the Black Hawk was designed for war more than border patrol, the one advantage it may have over other choppers in this regard, is that it's large, well-known and American. Those could be important attributes, HAC's Mitchell says, if Canada's primary goal in the mission is to ensure that the United States saw its neighbour trying to step up its border patrolling efforts in a very visible way. Article content In a June 1 letter to the RCMP, Mitchell writes that the Black Hawks 'offer no technological advantage to the mission profile, only an appearance.' Article content Helicopters are valued for their versatility and mobility. In Canada, they're mostly used in search and rescue, fighting forest fires, helping combat floods, and commercial applications in remote areas such as mining and electrical lines. Article content Article content But five-seat helicopters are typically used for patrol because they're more nimble and cheaper to operate than a larger, 14-seater such as Sikorsky's Black Hawk. Article content According to a February 10 letter by HAC to RCMP Commissioner Duheme, the choppers have not been approved by Canadian or American authorities for civilian purposes. Article content The RCMP's Black Hawk contracts overlap with Carney's vow to increase Canada's military spending so that it reaches the NATO target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Carney has also vowed to do more to support Canadian business and to rely less on the U.S. Article content Industry sources say the older Black Hawks were selling in recent months for about $1 million each, as the market became flooded with supply. The market for used helicopters has grown in recent years as the U.S. military has modernized its fleet, including the purchase of a newer model of Black Hawks, called the UH-60M. Article content Article content Article content Prices of new and used aircraft vary widely, depending on a range of factors. But a new five-seat helicopter, including those made in Canada, sells for about $6.5 million, while a new 14-seater, similar in size to the Black Hawks, goes for about $12 million. Article content But the helicopter association says the special exemptions from the usual rules are not fair to Canadian helicopter makers, nor to those Canadian companies that offer helicopter services using certified choppers. Article content Bell Textron, a subsidiary of Fort Worth, Tex.-based Textron, makes commercial helicopters at its Mirabel, Que. facilities. Its lineup of models includes the Bell 412, which could be used for border patrol. Article content Airbus Helicopters Canada, formerly MBB Helicopter Canada, has a 300-employee site at Fort Erie, Ont. That location focuses largely on sales, repair, engineering and composite manufacturing.
Straits Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Poland postpones acquisition of 32 Black Hawk helicopters
WARSAW - Poland has postponed the purchase of 32 more U.S. Lockheed Martin S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for its army, the Polish Ministry of Defence said on Friday, referring to a shift in priorities. Poland launched negotiations for the acquisition of the helicopters produced by Lockheed Martin's Polish arm PZL Mielec, in 2023 under the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government. "We have decided to change the priorities of the helicopter programs... to better adapt to the challenges of future warfare," armed forces chief of staff General Wieslaw Kukula told a press conference. The Polish military aims to prioritise the acquisition of training and combat helicopters, a versatile naval carrier helicopter, and a heavy transport helicopter, Kukula said. Earlier Polish media reported the acquisition process for the Black Hawks was cancelled. Lockheed Martin said in an email on Friday, that it looks forward to continuing its long-standing partnership with Poland where 1,700 PZL Mielec employees are involved in the manufacture of F-16 fighters and Black Hawks. Grzegorz Polak, a spokesman for Poland's Armament Agency which buys equipment for the army, told Reuters on Friday that "some correction" was needed regarding priorities in light of the geopolitical situation and state security interests. "Maybe it is necessary to acquire other equipment in its (helicopters') place such as drones, or tanks, or some kind of communication," he said, adding it was not the agency that set procurement priorities. PiS lawmaker Mariusz Blaszczak, who was defence minister in the previous government, labelled the decision to suspend the purchase of the Black Hawks a "disgrace" in a post on X, saying it would slow down the replacement of the helicopter fleet. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
