By decision of the Portuguese government, since 2018 the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) has had firefighting among its official missions, operating with its own assets to combat wildfires affecting the country’s rural areas. To this end, the institution has been moving forward with the incorporation of a total of nine (9) Black Hawk helicopters acquired in the United States, effectively replacing the Russian-built Kamov Ka-32s, which were transferred to Ukraine. Within this framework, progress has been reported in the process of receiving the first UH-60L “Lima,” which will complement the existing UH-60A fleet.
As part of the “Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR)” program, the government of Portugal confirmed and later expanded the purchase of a total of nine (9) Black Hawk helicopters remanufactured in the United States by Arista Aviation.
The remanufactured aircraft have been equipped and upgraded to operate safely across a wide range of missions—from firefighting to the transport of fire crews and personnel. They are operated by Squadron 551 – “Panteras,” which received its first two units at the end of 2023.
Regarding the composition of this Black Hawk fleet, it includes six UH-60A “Alpha” variants, of which four have already been delivered—the most recent having arrived in Portugal last April—while the remaining three correspond to the UH-60L “Lima” model. According to the FAP, these come “…with T700-GE-701C engines, an external hoist system, and a weather radar.”
Recently, the Air Force confirmed that it is advancing in the process of incorporating the first “Lima” into Squadron 551 – “Panteras,” announcing the arrival of pilots and personnel at Arista Aviation’s facilities in Guntersville, Alabama, to carry out the “…provisional acceptance of the first UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter.” This process will continue through 2026, alongside the training of additional crews.
Finally, the Portuguese Air Force indicated that this aircraft will soon be transported—presumably aboard one of the institution’s new Embraer KC-390s—to be received at Air Base No. 8 in Ovar, bringing the total number of incorporated Black Hawks to five.
Photos: Portuguese Air Force
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I believe this company is ACE Aeronautics, in Guntersville, AL. Not Arista.
In the US, according to the FAA, “remanufacture” means starting over again from raw materials and therefore that terminology is not valid for use in US aviation – it doesn’t happen.
If you meant “rebuild” that too has limitations on its use. Nobody is allowed to “rebuild” a US aircraft type or component thereof except the OEM, in this case Sikorsky. Anyone else can do nothing more than “overhaul” it.