Lockheed Martin’s Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec has officially begun manufacturing two Sikorsky S-70 Firehawk helicopters destined for Czechia, marking the first Firehawk production program in Europe. Based on the proven Black Hawk platform, the Firehawk has been extensively modified for aerial firefighting, disaster response, and emergency rescue operations. Equipped with a 1,000-gallon water tank, retractable snorkel, twin-engine configuration, night vision capability, and advanced search-and-rescue equipment, the helicopters will support both national emergency response and multinational humanitarian missions under the European RescEU framework. PZL Mielec is responsible for producing the Black Hawk airframes before United Rotorcraft integrates specialized firefighting systems and conducts crew training. The aircraft are expected to provide Czech emergency services with highly capable wildfire suppression and disaster relief assets while strengthening Europe’s shared civil protection capabilities against increasingly frequent natural disasters.
