New helicopters, transport planes & jets for Linz-Hörsching!

There will be a lot going on at Linz-Hörsching Airport in the next few years – but in the military sector: According to the Federal Army’s 2032+ development plan, four new transport aircraft (C-390 Embraer) and 12 new Black Hawk helicopters (UH 60-M) will find their military home. In addition, the jet trainers (12 units) that are yet to be purchased will also take off and land in Hörsching in the future.

The Federal Army will also invest a lot of money in the next few years to bring the infrastructure up to date. In Hörsching alone, we will invest around 1.2 billion euros as part of the development plan. “The measures underline the central importance of Upper Austria for the Federal Army. I am pleased that our state will continue to be a powerful location in the future,” says Governor Thomas Stelzer.

Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk Hubschrauber
The procurement of twelve Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks for the Austrian Air Force is being carried out through the US Army’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program in cooperation with the United States of America. The aircraft will be procured as a complete package with logistical services, mission equipment and the necessary training for pilots and technicians with a planned budget of €715 million. The new medium transport helicopters will be stationed in Hörsching and will be available to the Austrian Air Force for at least 30 years. Delivery of the helicopters will begin in 2028 and will subsequently replace the Agusta Bell (AB212), which will be taken out of service at the end of the decade.

The Black Hawk is a very reliable transport helicopter that has become legendary due to its versatility. Since its release in 1974, this type of helicopter has been improved many times and adapted to technical developments. The Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk’s possible uses include air transport (personnel, material), patient transport, evacuations, the use of special forces, parachutist drop-offs and firefighting from the air. The Black Hawk has a range of around 590 kilometers, which can be extended to around 2,200 kilometers with externally attached additional tanks. It reaches a maximum speed of 300 km/h and the maximum flight altitude is around 6,000 meters.

Embraer C-390M Transportflugzeuge
The three Hercules aircraft currently in service with the Austrian Armed Forces were purchased second-hand in 2003. The aircraft were already 36 years old at the time, but they are now 57 years old and will be decommissioned in 2028.

The C-390M will be stationed in Hörsching and will be available as an air transport system for the Austrian Air Force for at least 30 years. According to the Ministry of Defense, the Embraer C-390M’s possible uses include air transport (personnel, material), patient transport, evacuations, landing on unpaved runways or even dropping parachutists from the air.

The transport aircraft can be used to transport loads of up to 26,000 kg and to transport vehicles up to the size of a Pandur Evolution with a weapon station installed. It can transport 80 passengers or 60 parachutists and can also be used for medical evacuation missions (MEDEVAC).

Photo: State of Upper Austria/Mayrhofer

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