In a demonstation held at Salem Riverfront Park, the Firehawk made its debut as the newest addition to the Oregon National Guard aviation resources.

Through a cooperative agreement between Sikorsky, the aircraft manufacturer; Aero Union, the belly tank creator; and the Oregon National Guard, the Firehawk is the newest weapon against wildfires in Oregon.

A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter was loaned to Sikorsky and Aero Union for creation, development and testing for a period of one year. The Firehawk is the end result and has proven to be an effective firefighting tool.

The belly tank and snorkel system allows the Firehawk to maintain its ability to perform pickup and rescue operations without dropping its tank during a fire fight.

To refill the tank, the snorkel needs only enough water to cover its end, and includes a 30 gallon compartment for foam which mixes inflight.

The Oregon National Guard is the first military organization in the world to add the firehawk to its inventory.