| UH-60 Black Hawk | |
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| UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. | |
| Type | Utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation |
| Maiden flight | 1974 |
| Introduced | 1979 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | United States Army Australian Army Republic of Korea Army Turkish Armed Forces |
| Produced | 1970s-present |
| Number built | 2600+ |
| Unit cost | US$5.9 million |
| Developed from | Sikorsky S-70 |
| Variants | SH-60 Seahawk HH-60 Pave Hawk HH-60 Jayhawk |
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 S-70 was the winner of a United States Army Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition in the early 1970s to replace the UH-1 Huey family. Though the two final competing designs were each developed to Army specifications, the UH-60 was selected over the Boeing-Vertol YUH-61 entry from Boeing-Vertol. It would go on to serve as the basis for variants in service with other branches of the US military.
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Overview
The Black Hawk series of aircraft can perform a wide array of missions, including the tactical transport of troops, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation: several VH-60N Black Hawks are even used to transport the President of the United States as Marine One, known as the VH-60 Whitehawk.[1] In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops with equipment or reposition the 105 mm M102 howitzer with thirty rounds of 105 mm ammunition, and a four-man crew in a single lift. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600 lb (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,050 kg) of cargo. The Black Hawk is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics for increased survivability and capability, such as the Global Positioning System. The unit cost varies with the version due to the varying specifications, equipment and quantities. For example, the unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million while the unit cost of the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk is $10.2 million.[2]
History
The Black Hawk was developed to meet a US Army requirement for a UH-1 Iroquois replacement in 1972. Four prototypes were constructed, the first (YUH-60) flying in October 1974, and evaluated against a rival Boeing-Vertol design, the YUH-61. 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-60A's and UH-60L's well into the 2020s, features still more power and lift and state of the art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control.
Variants
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)[3] which provides wings that allow it to carry up to four external fuel tanks for extended range operations or a variety of weapons,[4] 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[5] and up to 11 passengers. Equipped with T-700-GE-700 engines.[1]
- 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).[2][3]
- EH-60A Black Hawk: Modified electrical system and stations for two electronic systems mission operators.[1]
- 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.[1]
- YEH-60B Black Hawk: UH-60A modified for special radar and avionics installations, prototype for stand-off target acquisition system.[1]
- UH-60C Black Hawk: Modified version for C2 missions.
- EH-60C Black Hawk: UH-60A modified with special electronics equipment and external antenna.[1]
- UH-60L Black Hawk: UH-60A with upgraded T-700-GE-701C or T-700-GE-701D/CC engines,[1] improved durability gearbox, and additional vibration absorbers.[6]
- EUH-60L (no official name assigned): Modified with additional mission electronic equipment for Army Airborne C2.[1]
- EH-60L Black Hawk: EH-60A with major mission equipment upgrade.[1]
- UH-60M Black Hawk: UH-60L upgraded[1] 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.[7]
- UH-60Q Black Hawk: UH-60A modified for medical evacuation.[1]
SH-60 Seahawk
- YSH-60B Seahawk: Developmental version, led to SH-60B.[1]
- 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.[1]
- NSH-60B Seahawk: Permanently configured for flight testing.[1]
- SH-60F Seahawk: Navy upgrade version, received in 1988, equipped with dipping sonar.[1]
- NSH-60F Seahawk: Modified SH-60F to support the VH-60N Cockpit Upgrade Program.[1]
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.[1]
- 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.[1]
- HH-60H Sea Hawk: Modified SH-60F with both offensive and defensive weaponry. T-700-GE-401 engines.[1]
- 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.[1] Components include an external rescue hoist, integrated patient configuration system, and aircrew positions relocated to the back of the cabin. [8]
- MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP): Special operations modification, operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.[4] It is capable of being armed with 30mm chain gun and 2.75" 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.[1]
- MH-60R Seahawk: Modified SH-60B for multiple mission use. T-700-GE-401 engines.[1]
- 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.[1]
Other
- HH-60J Jayhawk: The United States Coast Guard version, equipped with a rescue hoist with a 200 ft (60.96 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability.
- VH-60D Nighthawk: VIP-configured HH-60D, used for Presidential transport. T-700-GE-401 engines.[1]
- VH-60N Whitehawk: Modified HH-60D used for Presidential transport.
Export versions
- UH-60J Black Hawk: Export variant for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Maritime Self Defense Force. Also known as the S-70-12. Made under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.[5]
- UH-60JA Black Hawk: Export variant for the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. Also made under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.[5]
- AH-60L Arpía III: Export version for Colombia, COIN attack version with improved electronics, firing system, FLIR, radar, light rockets and gun machines, developed by Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, Elbit and Sikorsky.
- AH-60L Battle Hawk: Export version for the Australian Army.
- UH-60P Black Hawk: Export version for the Republic of Korea, similar to UH-60L configuration.[1]
Operators
Sikorsky offered the design in the defense market, leading to its purchase by over 20 other countries. It is currently in service with the militaries of:
- More than 90 in current service
- 2 in service by Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
- 6 in current service .
- Presidential Air Wing (civilian version S-70)
- Plans to purchase 60 UH-60M with possibility of acquiring 30 additional airframes in the future.
- 6 in current service
- 100 in current service
Specifications (UH-60 Black Hawk)
Data from Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: Minimum 2 pilots
- Capacity: 2,645 lb of cargo internally, including 14 troops or 6 stretchers, or 8,000 lb (UH-60A) or 9,000 lb (UH-60L) of cargo externally
- Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.76 m)
- Rotor diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
- Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
- Disc area: 2,260 ft² (210 m²)
- Empty weight: 10,624 lb (4,819 kg)
- Loaded weight: 16,260 lb (7,375 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,500 lb (11,113 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-701 free-turbine turboshafts, 1,560 hp (1,160 kW) each
-
Army manual drawing
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 193 knots (222 mph, 357 km/h)
- Combat radius: 368 mi (320 nm, 592 km)
- Ferry range: 1,380 mi[6] (1,200 nm, 2,220 km)
- Service ceiling 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
- Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
- Disc loading: 7.19 lb/ft² (35.4 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.192 hp/lb (158 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 2× 7.62 mm (0.30 in) M60 machine guns or M134 miniguns
(The Army is now replacing the M60 machine gun with the M240H machine gun.)[7]
- Can be equipped with VOLCANO minefield dispersal system. See UH-60 Armament Subsystems for more information.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x DoD 4120-15L, Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles
- ^ http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/archives/D/archnas1570.html
- ^ http://ails.arc.nasa.gov/Images/Aeronautics/AC91-0712-15.html Image of UH-60A RASCAL first flight]
- ^ 160th's web page
- ^ a b Mitsubishi Heavy Industries UH-60J page
- ^ a b Gunston, Bill (1995). The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. London: Aerospace Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-56619-908-5.
- ^ M240H 7.62mm Machine Gun (Aviation Version). U.S. Army PEO Soldier. Retrieved on 8 April 2007.
External links
- Black Hawk U.S Army fact file
- Army Aviation Training Center (at Ft. Rucker) UH-60A Black Hawk page
- Sikorsky Aircraft's BLACK HAWK page
- UH-60A, H-60, AH-60L and Sikorsky S-70 on GlobalSecurity.org
- H-60 Series aircraft photos and info on HawkOnline.us
- S-70A-42 Black Hawk of the Austrian Army
- UTTAS program, origin of the Black Hawk
- Military.com with data on range extending devices
Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
- U.S. Military:
- Sikorsky:
Related lists
See also
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Airplanes: S-29-A · S-38 · S-39 · S-40 · S-42 · S-43 · VS-44 |
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