The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-lift utility or assault helicopter used by over 20 nations. It is in service with the armies of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Malaysia, Morocco, the Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Republic of China (Taiwan), Thailand, and Turkey, but is best known as the primary utility and assault helicopter of the United States Army.

It can perform a wide array of missions, including air cavalry, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation: several Black Hawks are even used to transport the President as Marine One. In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops and equipment or carry the 105 mm M102 howitzer, thirty rounds of ammunition, and a six_man crew. 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, such as the global positioning system.

The HH-60 Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the Black Hawk primarily designed to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war. Some versions, such as the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk and the United States Coast Guard HH-60J Jayhawk, are equipped with a rescue hoist with a 250 ft (75 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe.

The Black Hawk was developed to meet a US Army requirement for a UH-1 Iroquois replacement in 1972. Three prototypes were constructed, the first flying in October 1974, and evaluated against a rival Boeing-Vertol design. 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 which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the 701 model of the GE engines. A newer model being engineered, 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.

The United States Navy received the first navalised SH-60B Seahawks in 1983 and the SH-60F in 1988. The United States Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in 1982 while the United States Coast Guard received the HH_60J Jayhawk in 1992. The unit cost varies with the version. 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.

The S-70A Firehawk is a version of the Black Hawk designed for firefighting, rescue, medical evacuation, and external lift of bulky cargo and equipment. The Oregon National Guard was the first military organization in the world to add the Firehawk to its inventory; the Los Angeles County Fire Department was the first municipal organization.

The Army also flies medical evacuation models which are configured as rotary winged medical suites.

When firing the GAU minigun, voice communications in the cabin is greatly impaired. Alternative communications should be planned.

Related topics

• Black Hawk Down

External link

• Ft. Rucker (Army Aviation Training Center) Black Hawk page (http://www-rucker.army.mil/helicopters/blackhawk.html)