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Helicopter Alliance Holding Companies to Supply Czech Ministry of the Interior with Helicopters for the Police and aerial firefighting

Česká letecká servisní (ČLS), part of the Helicopter Alliance holding, has been awarded both parts of the tender issued by the Czech Ministry of the Interior for the supply of medium category helicopters. Representatives of ČLS and the Ministry of the Interior signed two framework agreements with a total value of up to 4.9 billion Czech crowns for the procurement of up to three modernized UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters and up to three factory new Sikorsky S-70M Firehawks. These advanced helicopters will serve with the Czech Police in standard service roles, as well as support search and rescue operations and aerial firefighting efforts, enhancing the country’s aerial capabilities and public safety.

During the opening day of the European Rotors 2025 in Cologne, Germany, Helicopter Alliance announced that its subsidiary ČLS has secured framework agreements with the Czech Ministry of the Interior to supply up to six helicopters of the Black Hawk helicopter family, tailored to meet the operational needs of the Air Services of the Police of the Czech Republic. This agreement not only encompasses the delivery of state-of-the-art helicopters but also includes comprehensive training for aviation personnel and technicians, along with an initial package of spare parts and ground support equipment. Under the terms of the framework contracts, ČLS and its partners will deliver each helicopter within 36 months of order receipt.

Based on the first framework agreement regarding the project “Development of the Czech rescEU capacity for aerial forest fire extinguishing using a medium helicopter – project A” funded by the European Union, the ministry can order up to three S-70M helicopters in the Firehawk modification. The S-70M Firehawk is a specialized variant of the Black Hawk helicopter family, equipped with advanced aerial firefighting equipment, including a large-volume tank system. “This model is primarily dedicated to aerial firefighting, but its firefighting equipment can be easily de-assembled,” explained Monika Kowalczyková, CEO of ČLS, adding: “This flexibility will allow the Czech Police, as the first European operators of the Firehawk, to also utilize the helicopter for regular police duties. The acquisition of all three aircraft will be financed by European Union funds, as part of the rescEU civil protection program.  This investment aims to strengthen Europe‘s aerial firefighting and emergency response capabilities, providing rapid support across member states when necessary.”

PZL Mielec, Poland, Sikorsky subsidiary, member of Lockheed Martin group, is the main partner and subcontractor for ČLS in this framework contract. “The introduction of Firehawk helicopters into service with the Czech Police represents a significant shift in the fight against forest fires and emergencies in the Czech Republic and on the European continent,” said Dr. Dennis Goege, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin for Europe, adding: “By combining the proven capabilities of Firehawk helicopters with the expertise of Czech Police and rescue service specialists, it will be possible to more effectively and efficiently manage the threat of forest fires, which is growing year by year in a number of European countries, within the rescEU system.”

Black Hawk family helicopters are modified into Firehawk helicopters for aerial firefighting and disaster relief exclusively by US company United Rotorcraft, which is also one of ČLS's subcontractors for helicopter deliveries to the Czech Ministry of the Interior. The Colorado-based company has now delivered 28 Firehawk helicopters to US agencies, with an additional 5 more currently in production. “We are excited that the Firehawk will have its first European customer. We look forward to working with ČLS to create the first helicopters of this type outside the United States," said Larry Alexandre, president of United Rotorcraft.

Under the second framework agreement, the Czech Ministry of the Interior has the option to acquire up to three modernized UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters for the Air Service of the Police of the Czech Republic.  These helicopters will be supplied by ČLS in cooperation with the American company Ace Aeronautics, which is also part of the Helicopter Alliance holding. The helicopters will be procured from surplused U.S. armed forces assets and will undergo a comprehensive modernization process. This will include the installation of entirely new dynamic components such as engines and transmissions, as well as a modern digital glass cockpit.  Although purchased in a standard service configuration, their equipment will feature bambi buckets for aerial firefighting operations. “These modernized helicopters will achieve a performance and equipment level comparable to the high standards of the new Black Hawk helicopters,” stated Jonathan Castorena, Vice President for International Business and Sales for Helicopter Alliance.

Česká letecká servisní (ČLS) is based at Kbely Airport in Prague and became part of the Helicopter Alliance in the fall of 2023. The company was founded in 1997 and has been a leading provider of avionics solutions and special equipment for the military, security and civil market segments in Europe throughout its existence, both for helicopter technology and aircraft. In the Czech Republic, the company has a long-term cooperation with the state-owned enterprise LOM Praha and has completed a number of contracts for the Czech Army through the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic.

Ace Aeronautics is based in Guntersville, Alabama, USA and is the flagship of Helicopter Alliance. The company is a certified service center of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (for UH/HH-60L and S-70A helicopters) and currently supports customers around the world, including the US Army and the armed forces of Austria, Slovakia and Portugal. The company is made up of experts with knowledge from the US Army on the Black Hawk platform. Ace Aeronautics, in cooperation with the leading avionics manufacturer Garmin, has developed the fully integrated digital cockpit Ace Deck VL-60 for the Black Hawk family of aircraft, which includes the latest aviation and safety technologies.

Helicopter Alliance is a legal holding that includes six companies from Czechia, Slovakia and the USA. The six companies include Ace Aeronautics, U. S., Aviation Training Solutions, Česká letecká servisní, European Air Services, Slovak Training Academy and Heli Company. These companies are already established in the Czech Republic and abroad, thanks to projects from the recent past or present, providing full turn-key solutions throughout the complete lifecycle of the Black Hawk helicopter including operations of aerial firefighting services in the Czech Republic and other European countries.

Full project title: Development of Czech rescEU aerial forest firefighting capacity using medium helicopter – project A

Project abbreviation: rescEU-AFFF-H-CZ-A

Project number: 101144068

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union and the European Commission, as the grant provider. Neither the European Union nor the grant provider can be held liable for them.

Helicopter Alliance will take part in EUROPEAN ROTORS 2025, held in Cologne, Germany, from 17 to 20 November.
The event is among the most important gatherings in the rotorcraft industry, uniting manufacturers, operators, and regulatory bodies to share expertise, present innovations, and shape the future of vertical aviation across Europe. During the event, Helicopter Alliance will be available to guide interested partners through the full range of services and solutions we provide across the UH-60 Black Hawk lifecycle.

We look forward to connecting with partners, colleagues, and industry professionals throughout the event. If you would like to meet with our team or arrange a specific meeting time, please contact us via email.

✉️ info@helicopter-alliance.com.

Helicopter Alliance, through its member Česká letecká servisní a.s. (ČLS), proudly organized the first European UH-60 User Forum 2025 in Slovakia. The event gathered representatives from eleven nations, industry partners, and defense experts with the shared goal of strengthening cooperation among Europe’s Black Hawk operators.

Endorsed by Sikorsky, the two-day forum combined expert discussions, interactive panels, and hands-on demonstrations focused on shared challenges and practical solutions. Participants explored topics such as international procurement cooperation, modernization strategies, multinational training, secure communications, and mission flexibility.

An on-site UH-60L Black Hawk presented by Heli Company, part of the Slovak Training Academy and a member of the Helicopter Alliance, showcased operational configurations and mission adaptability.

In closing, Major General Michael Križanec, Commander of the Croatian Air Force, summarized the event’s spirit by saying, “Each nation brings unique experience — together, we build collective strength and resilience.”

The European UH-60 User Forum 2025 laid the groundwork for a common European Black Hawk framework. One built on interoperability, shared expertise, and a unified vision for modernization.

At Helicopter Alliance, we are proud to support this effort and look forward to helping Europe’s UH-60 community move from dialogue to coordinated action.

This summer once again proved how vital international cooperation is in protecting communities against wildfires. As a trusted partner, Helicopter Alliance provided UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 3,410-liter Bambi buckets to support missions across Europe.

In total, 681 water drops were executed during five international deployments (Bulgaria 🇧🇬, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, Albania 🇦🇱, Montenegro 🇲🇪, and Spain 🇪🇸) in 2025, with 15 specialists and 25 operational days. Each mission combined the expertise of Czech HZS crews with our helicopters and pilots, ensuring rapid and effective response in challenging conditions.

The most demanding deployment took place in Albania, where our teams executed 197 water drops under extreme conditions – temperatures above 40 °C, strong winds, and challenging terrain. This mission showcased both the resilience of the aircraft and the professionalism of the crews working side by side with colleagues from Slovakia 🇸🇰, the UAE 🇦🇪, and Italy 🇮🇹.

These missions are made possible thanks to shared European funding through the rescEU  transition program, combined with support from Czech ministries. This model of cooperation allows the Czech Republic 🇨🇿, together with partners like Helicopter Alliance, to respond swiftly to international requests and strengthen European resilience.

The footage we are sharing comes from the Spain deployment, where our helicopters supported firefighting in the mountainous regions of Extremadura and León.

We're proud to see our UH-60L Black Hawk flying in support of the EU in Emergencies rescEU Civil Protection Mechanism — the first-ever UH-60L to take part in this vital European initiative.
At Helicopter Alliance, it's incredibly rewarding to see our aircraft actively helping protect people, communities, and the environment across Europe during this year’s fire season.
With its proven performance, speed, and heavy-lift capacity, the UH-60L brings real strength to the front lines of firefighting when every second counts.

Follow the link for expert insight into aerial firefighting from the Slovak Fire and Rescue Service.