Black Hawk UH-60

MISSION:

The Black Hawk provides light utility and assault helicopter capability.

CHARACTERISTICS:<

The Black Hawk is a light transport helicopter that performs many missions in the Army. The Black Hawk is the primary helicopter for air assault, air cavalry, and aeromedical evacuation units. Modified Black Hawks also fulfill command and control, electronic warfare, and special operations roles. The Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of the Army because of its dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability compared to the UH-1 "Huey" it replaces. Now, an entire 11-man, fully equipped infantry squad can be lifted in one Black Hawk, and the troops can be transported faster and in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk also is the first utility and assault helicopter that adds to the Army's Division-level mobility; for example, it can reposition a 105mm howitzer, its crew of six, and up to 30 rounds of ammunition in a single lift. The aircraft's critical components and systems are armored or redundant to enable it to withstand multiple small arms hits, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers in a crash. Ease of maintenance in the field was designed into the Black Hawk from the beginning.

As for the assault role, the Blackhawk is capable of mounting its external stores support system(ESSS). Combatsim spoke with a 'Hawk pilot recently who commented:

At Fort Bragg, the 82nd Airborne division and the 159th Aviation Regiment and Fort Campbell, with the 101st Airborne and 160th Special Operations unit, they combine to total over 300 UH-60's and all, I repeat ALL of them use their ESSS wings on their missions. I do realize that we don't carry weapons, but please acknowledge the fact that we are just as capable a platform as the AH-64. I have test data on film showing the UH-60 carrying a full load of hellfires and test firing. The advantage we have over the 64's is the fact that we don't have to go home to reload.

UH-60A UH-60L

Max gross weight: 22,000 lb 22,000 lb

Cruise speed: 139 kt 150 kt

Endurance: 2.3 hr 2.1 hr

Max range: 320 nm 306 nm

Crew: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief 2 pilots, 1 crew chief

Armament: two 7.62 mm machine guns two 7.62 mm machine guns

Payload: 2,640 lb (or 11 combat equipped troops) 2,640 lb (or 11 combat-equipped troops)

External load: 8,000 lb 9,000 lb

FOREIGN COUNTERPART:

Russia: HIP series aircraft

United Kingdom: Lynx; EH-101

French: Puma; NH90.

PROGRAM STATUS:

The Army began fielding the UH-60 in 1978. Between 1978 and 1989 the Army procured UH-60A model aircraft. In October 1989, the propulsion system was upgraded, resulting in a model designation change from UH-60A to UH-60L. As of the end of Fiscal Year 1994, the Army has procured 350 UH-60L models for a total UH-60 buy of 1330 aircraft. The Army currently is in the fourth year of a five-year, multi-year procurement contract calling for the delivery of 60 Aircraft per year.

PROJECTED ACTIVITIES:

Delivery of 5 aircraft per month in accordance with the multi-year procurement contract. Continued refurbishment and standardization of pre-1989 UH-60A models to bring those airframes to the most up to date A model configuration.

PRIME CONTRACTOR:

United Technologies Corporation, (formerly Sikorsky Aircraft) (Stratford, CT)

General Electric (Lynn, MA)