The Black Hawk helicopter is a long-range, rotary-wing aircraft that has been used to transport soldiers and other personnel around the world for more than 50 years. It can transport 11 combat-equipped troops and spare parts. This versatile utility rotorcraft is capable of performing a range of missions such as medical evacuations or search and rescue.
It can fly at low altitudes and has military-grade armament. It has a rescue hoist that allows it to lift survivors from 200 feet above the ground or make vertical landings in unprepared areas.
Black Hawk's other modifications include an enhanced avionics suite as well as increased payload capacities, maneuverability, and safety features. It is used by the Army National Guard to provide airlift, firefighting, emergency medical services, troop transport, and electronic warfare.
UH-60A/UH-60L can be ordered in two different versions. One is the standard armed troop transportation, while the other is a dedicated medevac vehicle that is used for providing medical assistance and ferrying patients. It can house 11 fully-equipped soldiers and four full-size medical equipment.
It is the only UH-60 which can be refueled aboard a C-130 Hercules. Therefore, it is often used by military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also the only rotorcraft that can be fast-roped, which is an extremely efficient way to disembark and reload in a rush.
Black Hawks are available in both the main military and special operations versions. These variants can be used to perform missions in hostile environments with challenging terrain and weather conditions. This version is equipped with two M134 7.62mm “miniguns” and can conduct aerial attacks, resupply special forces and transport them.
The UH-60 Black Hawk, while considered a great workhorse by the military is still in its prime. In fact, it looks like it will be a critical component of the United States' wars and peacekeeping efforts for many years to come.
The Pentagon is working to replace its Black Hawk helicopters with a new tiltrotor. This initiative will cost $70billion over 10 years and will most likely be the Army's biggest ever procurement project. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, and Boeing have protested the decision. If the Army wins, they may challenge it in the courts.
Already, lawmakers demand answers from Army personnel and have asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review their decision. GAO's ruling could transform the Black Hawk debate, potentially putting millions of dollars in tax credits on the line for Sikorsky suppliers and other contractors.
The Army is preparing to replace its iconic Black Hawks with a new tiltrotor design, which it plans to use to launch the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). The Army has selected Bell's V-280 Valor model over the Defiant X which is a joint design of Sikorsky and Boeing. Two companies filed a formal protest with a non-partisan GAO. They must submit an evaluation within 100 days. If the GAO finds them guilty, they would be forced reevaluate their FLRAA bids.