United States Department of Defense - UH-60 Black Hawk

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-lift utility or assault helicopter derived from the twin-turboshaft engine, single rotor Sikorsky S-70.

The YUH-60A (S-70) was the winner of the United States Army Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition in the early 1970s to replace the UH-1 Huey family. It would go on to serve as the basis for variants in service with other branches of the US military.

The Black Hawk was developed to meet a US Army Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) requirement for a UH-1 Iroquois replacement in January 1972. Four prototypes were constructed, the first (YUH-60) flying in October 1974, and evaluated against a rival Boeing-Vertol design, the YUH-61A. A Preliminary Evaluation was conducted in November 1975 prior to delivery of the prototypes to the US Army. The evaluation was conducted to determine if the aircraft could be operated safely by typical Army pilots. Three of the prototypes were delivered to the US Army in March 1976, and one was kept by Sikorsky for internal research purposes. The Black Hawk was selected for production and the UH-60A entered service with the US Army in 1979.

In the late 1980s the model was upgraded to the UH-60L (First production aircraft 89-26179) which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the -701C model of the GE engines. A newer model is being engineered (UH-60M), which will extend the service life of both UH-60As and UH-60Ls well into the 2020s, features still more power and lift and state of the art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control.

The UH-60 comes in many variants, and many different modifications. The standard U.S. Army version can be fitted with the "External Stores Support System" (ESSS) which provides wings that allow it to carry up to four external fuel tanks for extended range operations or a variety of weapons, while variants may have different capabilities and their respective equipment in order to fulfill different roles.

UH-60 Black Hawk

* UH-60A Black Hawk: Original U.S. Army version, carrying a crew of four and up to 11 passengers. Equipped with T-700-GE-700 engines.
* UH-60A RASCAL: NASA-modified version for the Rotorcraft-Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory: $US25M program for the study of helicopter maneuverability in three programs, Superaugmented Controls for Agile Maneuvering Performance (SCAMP), Automated Nap-of-the-Earth (ANOE) and Rotorcraft Agility and Pilotage Improvement Demonstration (RAPID).
* EH-60A Black Hawk: Modified electrical system and stations for two electronic systems mission operators.
* MH-60A Black Hawk: Modified with additional avionics, precision navigation system, FLIR and air-to-air refueling capability. Equipped with T-700-GE-701 engines.
* YEH-60B Black Hawk: UH-60A modified for special radar and avionics installations, prototype for stand-off target acquisition system.

* UH-60C Black Hawk: Modified version for C2 missions.
* EH-60C Black Hawk: UH-60A modified with special electronics equipment and external antenna.
* UH-60L Black Hawk: UH-60A with upgraded T-700-GE-701C or T-700-GE-701D/CC engines,improved durability gearbox, and additional vibration absorbers.

* EUH-60L (no official name assigned): Modified with additional mission electronic equipment for Army Airborne C2.
* EH-60L Black Hawk: EH-60A with major mission equipment upgrade.

* UH-60M Black Hawk: UH-60L upgraded with improved design wide chord rotor blades, T-700-GE-701D Engines, improved durability gearbox, integrated Vehicle Management Systems (IVHMS) computer, and modern "Glass Cockpit" flight instrument suite. Planned to replace all UH-60A and L aircraft with the U.S. Army.

* UH-60Q Black Hawk: UH-60A modified for medical evacuation.

SH-60 Seahawk

* YSH-60B Seahawk: Developmental version, led to SH-60B.
* SH-60B Seahawk: The United States Navy's sea-going version. Based on UH-60A but with Mark III avionics. Equipped with T-700-GE-401 engines.
* NSH-60B Seahawk: Permanently configured for flight testing.
* SH-60F Seahawk: Navy upgrade version, received in 1988, equipped with dipping sonar.
* NSH-60F Seahawk: Modified SH-60F to support the VH-60N Cockpit Upgrade Program.

HH/MH-60 Pave Hawk

* HH-60G Pave Hawk: Modified UH-60A primarily designed for combat search and rescue. It is equipped with a rescue hoist with a 200 ft (60.96 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe.

* MH-60G Pave Hawk: Special Operations version ( used by the USAF), equipped with long-range fuel tanks, air-to-air refueling capability, FLIR, improved radar. T-700-GE-700/701 engines.
* HH-60H Sea Hawk: Modified SH-60F with both offensive and defensive weaponry. T-700-GE-401 engines.

* MH-60K Black Hawk: Special operations modification, used by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

* HH-60L (no official name assigned): UH-60L extensively modified with medical mission equipment. Components include an external rescue hoist, integrated patient configuration system, environmental control system, on-board oxygen system (OBOGS), suction, mechanical litter-lift system, drop-down ambulatory seats, with crew-chief and flight medic positions relocated to the back of the cabin.
* MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP): Special operations modification, operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. It is capable of being armed with 30 mm chain gun and 2.75 inch rockets, as well as M134D gatling guns operated as door guns or fixed forward.
* HH-60M {no official name assigned}: UH-60M with medical mission equipment.

* MH-60R Seahawk: Modified SH-60B for multiple mission use. T-700-GE-401 engines.
* MH-60S Knighthawk: Navy Multi-role combat support helicopter. Used for search and rescue, CSAR, MEDEVAC, Organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures, and anti-surface warfare.. T-700-GE-401 engines.