Black Hawks to Slash Medevac Times Across Portugal by 2026

Portuguese Air Force will deploy four Black Hawk helicopters for medical rescue missions in 2026

Portugal’s Ministry of National Defence has confirmed the purchase of four Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters that will be configured exclusively for emergency medical evacuations. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled to be completed no later than the end of August 2026, adding a permanent air-mobility component to the country’s pre-hospital care system.

Why new aircraft are needed

The Air Force was asked to step in during the summer of 2025 when a private operator, Gulf Med, was unable to launch its full helicopter service on time. Since then, four military helicopters have been on 24-hour standby, supplemented by two Gulf Med aircraft that operate during daylight hours. Although Gulf Med expects to reach full operational capability by September 2025, the government decided that a sovereign fleet was essential to guarantee coverage in the long term and in crisis situations.

Financing through the Recovery and Resilience Plan

The nearly €50 million acquisition will be funded through Portugal’s share of the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). Incorporating the helicopters into the PRR allows Lisbon to avoid drawing on the regular defence budget while still advancing toward NATO’s 2 percent-of-GDP defence-spending benchmark, which the government anticipates meeting in 2025.

Technical profile of the aircraft

• Model: UH-60 Black Hawk (twin-engine, medium-lift)• Crew: two pilots plus medical team• Capacity: up to 12 patients or passengers, depending on configuration• Range: roughly 555 km• Cruise speed: about 270 km/h, with a top speed of 314 km/h• Endurance: approximately 2.5 hours without refuelling

The helicopters will be fitted with a modular intensive-care suite, night-vision-compatible cockpits and winch systems for difficult rescues. They will operate from Air Force bases but can be forward-deployed to civilian helipads designated by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and the Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).

Integration with the national emergency network

Once the new fleet becomes operational, tasking will be coordinated through the joint INEM–Air Force command post, allowing dispatchers to select the closest helicopter, whether military or civilian. According to the Defence Ministry, bases in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Loulé, Évora and Viseu will continue to be priority locations, ensuring that no community is more than 30 minutes’ flying time from advanced medical care.

A broader modernisation effort

The Air Force purchase is part of a wider rotary-wing renewal programme. The Army will start to receive its own Black Hawks in 2026 under the HAPE (Support, Protection and Evacuation Helicopters) project, with deliveries stretching to 2028. Together, the two services will add up to eight new aircraft, creating opportunities for joint pilot training and shared maintenance contracts.

Budget implications for 2026

Parliament’s draft State Budget for 2026 allocates €3.77 billion to defence—23 percent more than the previous year. Roughly €339 million of that increase is categorised as “other current expenditure,” a pool that could be tapped for operating costs once the helicopters arrive. An additional €1.2 billion in financial reserves identified by the Public Finance Council could also be converted into defence outlays if required.

Training and certification timeline

Pilot conversion courses and technician instruction will begin in early 2026 to ensure crews are type-rated when the helicopters land in Portugal. The programme will follow European Military Airworthiness Requirements (EMAR) and be overseen by the National Aeronautical Authority.

What happens next

• 4Q 2025: Contract signature and down-payment under the PRR framework.• 1Q 2026: Commencement of pilot and ground-crew training.• 3Q 2026: Final acceptance tests and delivery of the four aircraft.• 4Q 2026: Full operational capability declared; INEM dispatch integrates new fleet.

By adding its own aircraft to the emergency-response arsenal, Portugal aims to guarantee nationwide medical evacuation coverage irrespective of private-sector setbacks and to strengthen the resilience of its civil-military cooperation network.