The Firehawk is a purpose-built variant of the Black Hawk helicopter designed for aerial firefighting and emergency response. Lockheed Martin said the aircraft will give the Czech Republic a rapid, all-weather fire suppression capability while also supporting neighboring countries through the European Commission’s RescEU program.
The helicopters will become permanent assets in the RescEU pool, allowing deployment across borders during wildfires, floods and earthquakes. The program also reflects a broader European effort to strengthen high-technology civil security and defense-related industrial capabilities through regional production and cooperation.
“This production start is more than a manufacturing milestone; it is the first concrete step toward a continent wide, modern aerial firefighting network,” said Dr. Dennis Goege, vice president and chief executive for Europe, Lockheed Martin. “By delivering proven technology from a European supply chain, we are giving European communities a decisive tool to protect lives, property and ecosystems.”
PZL Mielec will assemble the Black Hawk airframes at its facility in Poland. Lockheed Martin said the site works with more than 1,200 local suppliers and supports roughly 5,000 jobs across the European Union.
United Rotorcraft will install the mission-specific firefighting equipment, conduct crew training and provide long-term sustainment. The company’s work is intended to give Czech operators a complete capability modelled on systems used by U.S. agencies including CAL FIRE and the County of Los Angeles Fire Department.
“PZL Mielec has a long history of delivering aircraft that serve both national security and public safety missions,” said Janusz Zakręcki, PZL Mielec president and general director. “The launch of production for the Czech Republic’s Firehawk aircraft reinforces our role as a key European manufacturing center and highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing natural disasters and emergency response challenges.”
The Czech Republic’s order will create Europe’s first operational Firehawk fleet. The program combines Polish manufacturing, Czech aviation support and United Rotorcraft’s firefighting integration work as European countries face more demanding wildfire and emergency response requirements.
“The Czech Republic is not merely buying helicopters; it is pioneering Europe’s first operational Firehawk capability,” said Monika Kowalczykova, chief executive officer of Česká letecká servisní. “Our partnership brings world class, multi mission aircraft to a region that faces increasingly severe wildfire threats, and it sets a benchmark that other European operators can follow.”
Each Firehawk will be equipped with a 1,000-gallon, or 3,785-liter, water tank, a retractable snorkel, twin engines and night vision capability. Lockheed Martin said these features have proven effective in demanding wildfire conditions in the United States.
“The Firehawk’s proven performance in the toughest U.S. fire seasons gives us confidence that it will excel in Europe’s diverse terrain and weather,” said United Rotorcraft vice president of strategy and business development Jeanette Eaton. “We are sending a team to the Czech Republic to install the firefighting kit, water tanks and additional search and rescue equipment, ensuring the aircraft are mission ready from day one.”
Lockheed Martin said the program will strengthen Czech emergency response while adding capacity for wider European crisis operations. It also positions the Firehawk as a new element of Europe’s shared aerial firefighting network under RescEU.
