Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

Sikorsky MH-60L/UH-60L (Razors Edge/Super 68)

1990 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk military transport helicopter entered U.S. service in 1979 and quickly became the rotorcraft of choice for the U.S. Army and other branches.

Over time, the type was further developed to cover other battlefield roles, including anti-ship/anti-submarine, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation, and special forces operations (SPECOPS). The lineage continues to evolve throughout its lifespan, producing many notable baseline branches.

The UH-60L became an evolution of the UH-60 series and was ordered by the U.S. Army in 1987. The new model inherits all the improvements of the later UH-60A brand, but also improves lift and performance, thanks in large part to an upgraded T700-GE-701C turboshaft engine mated to an upgraded drivetrain.

The layout is the same as the SH-60B "Seahawk" derivative, and the UH-60L's automatic flight control system (AFCS) and folding main rotor blades are also inherited from this navalized surface form. The UH-60L brand went into production in 1989 and ended in 2007.

The MH-60L was introduced as a special combat version of the UH-60L series. The brand was a specially modified Special Mission Black Hawk that served with the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), better known as "Nightcrawler" and remained in service until the arrival of the improved MH-60K registration plate. The SOAR MH-60L helicopter includes forward looking infrared (FLIR), laser rangefinder/target designator capability, auxiliary fuel system and color weather map.

In 2003, 10 of the 37 MH-60Ls received in-flight (starboard) refueling probes to expand their operating range.

SN 90-26288 "Super 68", aka "Razorblade", is one of the UH-60L/MH-60L batches assigned to the 160th SOAR's Special Forces model and modified for direct action wear Permeator (DAP) - Supports Special Operations Forces through direct engagement/direct action in disputed areas. Delivered in 1990, it, like other Black Hawk brands, was escalated throughout its lifespan, eventually seeing action during the Battle of Mogadishu and the subsequent scene "Black Hawk Down" ("Operation Gothic Snake") . The Super 68 was one of three Black Hawk systems claimed by enemy forces in action.

Razor's Edge retains most of the form and function of the UH-60L/MH-60L series, with special mission equipment including winches (on the starboard side door), countermeasures (CM) and engine exhaust hoods to control noise and Reduce infrared output. The nose assembly has a protruding housing radar, and a sensor package is attached to a "chin bubble" which provides excellent traversal from the centerline below the nose.

A large probe under the forward fuselage enables aerial refueling, taking the dedicated Black Hawk form beyond the reach of standard Black Hawk transport.

Razor's Edge / Super 68 is a fully armed SPECOPs platform with a 19-round missile pod to starboard, a 30mm autocannon to port, and two electric 7.62mm machine guns on both sides of the fuselage in fixed forward mounts middle. The AGM-114 Hellfire can also be fitted with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) and Stinger short-range air-to-air missiles (AAM) as required by the mission.

These systems are attached to the aircraft via stubs and brackets, enabling the helicopter to deal with nearly every possible battlefield threat.

The helicopter is now at the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and was added to the collection in late 2013. He spent his entire operational career in the 160th SOAR.