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Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

1979 COLD WAR MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

History of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk has become the workhorse of other militaries in the United States and around the world. In addition to its inherent troop transport capabilities, its capabilities have expanded their roles to include special operations missions, assault, medical evacuation, command and control, and VIP transport duties. The first production Black Hawk entered service in 1979, and 20 years after its introduction, it remains a staple of many militaries today.

About 2,600 Black Hawks have been delivered worldwide.

The Black Hawk was born out of the Sikorsky S-70 program, which was developed to the specifications of the U.S. Army's Universal Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) starting in the second half of the 1960s.

The specification itself stems from data collected during UH-1 Huey Iroquois helicopters flying multiple missions over theater. A review of this experience leads to the need for effective alternative systems in the near future. This design specification also coincides with the development of GE's new series of turboshaft engines, known as the T700.

In 1972, the U.S. Army probe disappeared, and both Sikorsky and Boeing-Vertor answered the call. The Sikorsky design was selected ahead of the Boeing-Vertor YUH-61A trials, and the Sikorsky YUH-60A prototype flew for the first time on November 29, 1974. The production contract was handed over to Sikorsky in late 1976, and the first deliveries of the black Hawk Systems began two years later on a day in October.

The Black Hawk officially entered service with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division in mid-1979, replacing the venerable UH-1 Huey.

The UH-60 Black Hawk first fought in the United States during the invasion of Grenada in 1983 and later the invasion of Panama in 1989. The Black Hawks were put to good use to remove soil when the 1991 Gulf War coalition offensive defeated Saddam Hussein's invading Kuwait.

Perhaps the involvement of the Black Hawks in the attack on the Somali capital Mogadisi is the history of helicopters that most observers will always remember. The horrific TV footage of two Black Hawk helicopters being shot down by enemy rocket-propelled grenades during the attack (18 in total, including a prisoner and 73 wounded) killed Americans, effectively heralding the beginning of the end for America - in this country's commitment.

At the turn of the century, 9/11 forced the United States to intervene directly in Afghanistan and later in Iraq, extending the untold history of the Black Hawk into the future.

The UH-60M represents the current production model of the Black Hawk. Blackhawk operators range from the Pacific Rim to South America, from the Middle East to Europe. Some of the largest operators are the US, Colombia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia.

With thousands of units in circulation around the world, the UH-60 Black Hawk in various forms should continue to be actively used in the 2020s.

In May 2011, U.S. Navy SEALs are said to have used a "secret" version of the UH-60 Black Hawk during a successful attack on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. The helicopter is said to feature several cutting-edge technologies that reduce the aircraft's radar signature and noise levels, the former through a special fabric coating or "skin", the latter through a bowl mount above the tail rotor piston and (possibly) the engine housing . The Black Hawks managed to remain undetected throughout the operation, although one was lost to a malfunction and blown to the ground before the mission was over. The operation resulted in the death of the mastermind of 9/11.

However, the wreckage of the exploding helicopter was then picked up by the Pakistani government and taken to an undisclosed location. Notably, the Chinese government has a close working relationship with the Pakistani government and may use such technology in the market to advance their own stealth programs.

Specification

Basic

Year:

1979

Status:

active, on duty

Staff:

Production

[2,625 units]:

Sikorsky Aircraft - USA / PZL - Poland / Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) - Turkey

Roles

- Ground Attack

- Close Air Support (CAS)

- Traffic

- Special Forces

- driverless

Dimensions

Length:

50.07 ft (15.26 m)

Width:

53.67 ft (16.36 m)

Height:

12.34 feet (3.76 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

11,517 lb (5,224 kg)

MTOW:

11,113 kg

(Difference: +12.983lb)

Performance

2 x GE T700-GE-701C turboshaft engines producing 1,800 SHP while driving a four-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

183 mph (294 km/h; 159 knots)

Service Limit:

18,996 ft (5,790 m; 3.6 mi)

Maximum range:

363 miles (584 km; 315 nmi)

Rate of climb:

1,550 ft/min (472 m/min)

Armor

Optional: External Storage Support System (ESSS) with up to four mount points.

2 x 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) on side canopy pivot mounts.

Additionally:

16 x Hellfire Anti-Tank Missiles (ATGM).

2 x external 230 gallon fuel tanks.

2 x 450 gallon external fuel tanks.

2 x GAU-19 12.7mm Gatling guns.

2 x M240H 7. 62mm GPMG.

Mine dissemination system.

Black Hawk Special Operations (MH-60L DAP):

2 x M134D Gatling Guns (stationary, forward firing or on gantry).

2 x 2. 75" FFAR missile pods.

1 x 30mm Chain Gun.

Changes

YUH-60A - Prototype designation

UH-60 - Main model series name

UH-60A - US Army base model; equipped with General Electric T700-GE-700 engines.

UH-60A RASCAL - Rotorcraft-crew Systems Concept Airborne Laboratory for NASA.

UH-60C - Command and Control Variant

UH-60E - Proposed troop transport variant for USMC

UH-60FFF (Fixed Front Fire) - Variant configured to support 12.7mm heavy machine gun and 2.75" rocket pod.

UH-60J (S-70-12) - Export version of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force; manufactured under license from Mitsubishi.

UH-60JA - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force export model; manufactured under license from Mitsubishi.

UH-60L - Upgraded UH-60A with T700-GE-701C engine, improved gearbox and flight control system.

UH-60M - Standardized version with new avionics system, improved composite main rotor and wider chord, improved gearbox, improved cockpit instrumentation and IVHMS computer and reinforced fuselage.

UH-60P - Korean export model based on UH-60L.

UH-60Q "Dustoff" - Medical evacuation model; became HH-60A.

EH-60A - ECM jammer configuration; since bringing back the UH-60A standard.

UH-60V - The modern standard for the UH-60L stock with Northrop Grumman cockpits.

YEH-60B - Prototype model with dedicated radar system and avionics.

EH-60C - Special equipment and antenna; since reverts to UH-60A standard.

EUH-60L - Equipped with specialized equipment for Army Airborne Command and Control.

EH-60L - Improved EH-60A model.

HH-60G - Combat Rescue Model

HH-60L - Modified UH-60L model for MedEvac

HH-60M - Modified UH-60M model for the MedEvac character.

MH-60A - Equipped with FLIR for special mission operations; updated avionics and navigation systems; air-to-air refueling capability; equipped with General Electric T700-GE-701 series engines.

MH-60K - Special Operations Black Hawk of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment; equipped with on-board refueling probe; terrain following radar.

MH-60L "Direct Action Penetrator" - Special Operations Black Hawk, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment; equipped with 30mm chain gun, 2.75" rocket pod and M134D Gatling gun (door or front mounted ).

MH-60R - rebuilt SH-60B model

MH-60S - U.S.

Navy Development; Combat Search and Rescue Duty; Previously Designated CH-60; SH-60 Automatic Flight Control System and Collapsible Airframe Elements for Carrier Storage and Basic UH-60 Fusion of the fuselage.

HH-60 "Pave Hawk" - US Air Force model series designation.

SH-60 "Seahawk" - USN model series designation.

VH-60D "Nighthawk" - US Marine Corps VIP HH-60D model used as a presidential vehicle; equipped with T700-GE-401C engines.

VH-60N Whitehawk - US Marine Corps VIP UH-60A model used as a presidential vehicle; made in nine copies.

AH-60L "Arpia III" - Export model used by Colombia; equipped with FLIR, improved electronics and radar; supplied with rockets and machine guns; developed to Colombian Air Force specifications.

AH-60L Warhawk - Export model for use by the Australian Army; never produced.

S-70A - Sikorsky military export model series designation

S-70A-1 "Desert Eagle" - export model of the Saudi Arabian army

S-70A-L1 "Desert Eagle" - export MedEvac model for the Saudi Arabian army

S-70-5 - Philippine Air Force export model

S-70A-9 - Australian Army export model

S-70-11 - Jordanian Air Force export model

S-70-12 - Japan Air Self-Defense Force (SAR) search and rescue export model.

S-70-14 - Brunei export model

S-70-16 - Development test model of the Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM 332 series engine.

S-70-17 - Turkish export model

S-70-19 (WS-70) - British made Westland licensed Black Hawk.