Sikorsky UH-60

Sikorsky S-70 / UH-60 Black Hawk
A US Army UH-60L “Black Hawk” in Iraq
Type:	Transport helicopter
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
First flight:	17th October 1974
Commissioning:	1979
Production time:	In series production since 1977
Number of pieces:	over 4000 (as of early 2017)

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-weight transport helicopter and has been produced in various, mainly military versions by the US manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation since 1978 . The US military type number UH-60 is also used for export copies that are sold through the US government ( Foreign Military Sales Program ), while copies ordered directly from Sikorsky receive the Sikorsky series number S-70 .

Development history

At the beginning of 1970 the US Army needed a replacement for the light multi-purpose helicopter Bell UH-1 "Iroquois", which had proven itself in the Vietnam War , but had several crucial shortcomings such as the inadequate self-protection and the insufficient payload and range for some missions .

The Army therefore initiated a competition in 1972 to design a medium-weight tactical transport helicopter. On December 23, 1976, the Sikorsky company with its YUH-60 model emerged as the winner against Boeing's YUH-61 . The maiden flight of the first of three YUH-60s took place on October 17, 1974 with test pilots James Wright and John Dixson on board. The helicopter was able to go into series production as the UH-60A Black Hawk with only minor changes . In the prototype, the low mounting of the main rotor for the purpose of air loadability led to vibration problems. In the series, the main rotor was therefore mounted higher above the fuselage, but could be lowered using a removable shaft extension. Due to its fixed horizontal stabilizer, the prototype showed a strong tendency to raise the nose during landings, causing the pilot to lose sight of the ground. Therefore, an automatic adjustment of the horizontal stabilizer was implemented in the series. The SH-60B was chosen as the new helicopter by the Navy in early 1978. The first production version of the UH-60A took off on its maiden flight on October 17, 1978 and was delivered to the 101st Airborne Division in June 1979. Of this type, 980 helicopters were delivered to the Army from 1978 to 1989, until the improved UH-60L replaced it.

technical structure

UH-60 rotor head

The models of the Black Hawk series are built in a conventional tail rotor configuration and have two shaft drives . The fixed undercarriage is designed in a star wheel arrangement. The main rotor turns to the left in the top view and has four rotor blades , these are designed as a sandwich panel with a honeycomb core and a GRP outer skin; the embedded spar is made of titanium . The rotor hub is forged in one piece from titanium. A key consideration in the development of the Black Hawk was its resistance to combat. Practically the entire helicopter, including the rotors, is designed in such a way that it can continue to fulfill its mission despite moderate fire from 23 mm cannons. This allows the Black Hawk to continue flying for up to an hour, even if the main transmission oil pressure is lost.

What is striking is a structural peculiarity in the arrangement of the tail rotor, the axis of which is inclined by 20 ° to the horizontal. As a result, the tail rotor does not only generate counter torque, as is the case with conventional systems, but also an additional lift component. This ensures that the tail rotor generates around 2.5% of the total lift (250 lbs at maximum take-off weight ). If the tail rotor control is damaged, the setting angle of the tail rotor is automatically adjusted by a spring mechanism in order to compensate for the main rotor torque generated at nominal power. This enables a safe landing in the event of a controllability failure of the tail rotor.

Black Hawk variants

AH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP)

AH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP)

Developed in 1990 from the MH-60L as an attack helicopter for the 160th SOAR . Cliff Wolcott, who until his death belonged to the Systems Integration and Management Office (SIMO), which dealt with modernization options for the helicopters, is given as the originator of the concept . Depending on the order, the AH-60L can be equipped with a 30 mm M230 automatic cannon , various unguided missiles of the FFAR type , air-to-surface missiles of the AGM-114 Hellfire type , anti-aircraft missiles of the FIM-92 Stinger , M134 -Gatling and machine guns with a caliber of 7.62 mm. It is used exclusively for fire support. The first use took place during the Second Gulf War .

EH-60A Quick Fix

The quick fix was developed by the US Army for the electronic warfare equipped with different jammers to render them ineffective by hostile radio and radar. The prototype YEH-60A first flew on September 24, 1981. Delivery of the EH-60A began in July 1987, and 66 units were built.

HH-60 MedEvac

The HH-60 MedEvac is a modified variant of the UH-60 for medical transport ( MedEvac ). Equipped with six stretchers, medical equipment and a rescue winch. In version Q, a FLIR vision system and a TACAN navigation system were installed. The first flight was on January 31, 1993.

HH-60G Pave Hawk

US Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk in Iraq

MH-60K Black Hawk

Used by the US National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, the "Pave Hawk" serves as a rescue helicopter for SAR missions. In the US Air Force it is also used for CSAR missions and for the transport of special troops ( Pararescue Jumpers , Navy SEALs ). For these tasks, the HH-60G has increased performance and range and is equipped with a bug-proof satellite communication system. With its Doppler / INS navigation system, the Honeywell AN / APN-239 weather / terrain tracking radar and a Raytheon AN / AAQ-16 FLIR vision system, it is fully suitable for night use and all weather conditions. Depending on the order it can to the gunner places with a M134 / GAU-2B Gatling (7.62 mm) or a M60D - machine gun (7.62 mm) and, in addition to the doors with a GAU-16A / 18A GAU-machine gun (12.7 mm) - mounted on an M144 swivel device - can be armed for self-defense. In the front area it can be recognized by the refueling probe required for air refueling and on the underside by the attached recovery hook. The expansion stage block 162 has a modified chaff / flare dispenser (decoy system) and a revised navigation and communication system. As with the MH-60K Black Hawk, the radar was moved from the bottom left to the center. In 1992 all MH-60G were renamed HH-60G.

MH-60 Blackhawk

Used in two variants of the 160th SOAR for the transport of special forces . The variant K (first flight August 10, 1990) is equipped with an aerial refueling probe, pick-up points for external fuel tanks, multi-function screens, AN / ARN-148-Omega / VLF navigation system, AN / APQ-174B terrain follower radar, FLIR display device, IR jamming device, M-130 chaff / flare dispenser, laser aiming device and wire deflector. Variant L is a more cost-effective version without an air refueling probe and with weather radar. An M240 D machine gun or M134 -Gatling are available for the gunner on each side .

S-70 Blackhawk

S-70 of the Austrian Armed Forces

The US military variants of the H-60 have been expanded to include the series of S-70 derivatives, which are specially designed for the international market. Users of this version are, for example, the Austrian Armed Forces ( Austria ), the Australian Defense Force ( Australia ) and Saudi Arabia . Exports via the US government as part of "Foreign Military Sales" are designated H-60 .

On April 4, 2020, 2 of the aircraft, each with a 3000 liter water tank, were used to extinguish a fire several square kilometers in the reed belt of Lake Neusiedl .

S-70 Yanshuf

Under the name S-70 "Yanshuf" (night owl), an S-70 at the Israeli company Elbit was converted into an armed version of the Armed Battlefield Helicopter (ABH) from June 2007 . For this purpose, lateral external load carriers to accommodate missiles and additional sensors and a pivoting cannon were installed on the bow. The first flight took place on September 10, 2008.

S-70i Blackhawk

The latest version of the Black Hawk is the S-70i ,  manufactured in Poland by PZL Mielec - a subsidiary of Sikorsky ; it had its maiden flight on July 1, 2010. The first three helicopters were delivered to the Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia in mid-2011.

T-70 Blackhawk

2011 Turkey bought for 2.9 billion euros as 109 T-70 designated specifically for Turkey customized S-70i for all the armed forces, the police and fire units. The purchase contract was not signed until 2016, however. The T-70 is to be manufactured and equipped by the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI); local suppliers include Turkish Engine Industries (TEI), Aselsan and Alp Aviation. The T-70 is equipped and improved exclusively from Turkish resources. Thereafter, TAI will also offer the pattern for export.

UH-60A Blackhawk

The first series production; 980 helicopters of this type were delivered to the US Army from 1978 to 1989, until the improved UH-60L replaced it. The UH-60 can accommodate eleven fully equipped soldiers.

UH-60L Blackhawk

Colombian UH-60L throws flares

The version currently used by the US Army has, in addition to new engines with increased power of 220 kW (300 PS) each, a simplified aiming system for anti-tank guided missiles of the AGM-114 Hellfire type (not standard). In addition to the missiles, the helicopter can also carry external tanks or launchers for unguided missiles on its pylons. The type designation UH is derived from the utility helicopter classification (see: Designation system for aircraft of the US armed forces ). The first flight took place on March 22, 1988. The United States National Guard designated this version as the OH-60L . The UH-60P is a similar version for South Korea, 141 of which were built, 138 of which were for Korean Air Lines.

UH-60M Blackhawk

The UH-60M is a further development of the UH-60L with new rotor blades, T-700-GE-701D engines, more durable gearboxes, modern avionics with a glass cockpit and a tail unit made of composite materials. It replaces the US Army's UH-60A and UH60L and, as a Combat Rescue Helicopter, the USAF's HH-60G. The UH-60M took off on its maiden flight on September 17, 2003, and delivery of the first series helicopters began at the end of July 2006. The "UH-60M Upgrade" version includes a modernization of the fly-by-wire system and a FADEC for the engine as well as a stern made of composite materials. The first flight of this version was on August 29, 2008.

UH-60V Blackhawk

Parts of this article seem out of date as of 2017 .
Please help to research and insert the missing information .

The UH-60V is a converted US Army UH-60L, which is to receive a digital one instead of the analogue cockpit. The first flight is planned for January 2017. 760 units are to be converted.

HH-60W Jolly Green II

The "Whiskey" series is a USAF Combat Rescue Helicopter and the successor to the HH-60G. The model's maiden flight took place on May 17, 2019. The USAF plans to replace all HH-60Gs with 112 HH-60Ws by 2024. The initial operational capability should be achieved by April 2021.

UH-60 / S-70 Firehawk

UH-60 Firehawk of the LA County Fire Department

S-70A Firehawk

S-70C Firehawk

The "Firehawk" is a civil version that is used in the USA to fight forest fires. The machine has a 3800 liter water tank under the fuselage and a suction nozzle to fill it. The modifications for the water tank made a chassis 50 cm higher necessary. An advantage of fighting a fire with the Firehawk is, in addition to the intake of extinguishing water, the possibility of being able to drop a 13-man fire brigade team at the scene of the fire if the water tank is not full. Firehawk are also technically revised (refurbished) from used military versions and expanded or rebuilt for the new purpose, e.g. B. For the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a former National Guard Blackhawk.

VH-60 Whitehawk

The US Marine Corps uses the "White Hawk" as a VIP helicopter, mainly for people like the US President. When transporting the President, he wears the callsign Marine One .

Seahawk variants

HH-60H Seahawk

The HH-60H is an airborne multipurpose helicopter with the airframe of the "Sea Hawk" for supply flights, SAR missions, MedEvac and missions against surface targets. Hellfire or FIM-92 Stinger missiles are available as armaments . With the introduction of the MH-60S, this variant is no longer used by the US Navy. The first flight of the HH-60H took place on August 17, 1988. Delivery began in July 1989 and 42 units had been delivered by the end of 1996.

HH-60J Jayhawk

HH-60J Jayhawk

The United States Coast Guard had a paramilitary marine rescue helicopter developed in 1986 to replace its Sikorsky HH-3F "Pelican" together with the USN's HH-60H. The first flight took place on August 8, 1990. This USCG has since operated a fleet of 42 “Jayhawks”. The helicopters are (Engl. For search and rescue Search and Rescue SAR ), the fight against drugs and for water protection used along the US coasts. They are deployed either from the eight coastal bases or from the coast guard cutters equipped with similar frigates . Since 2007, all have been modernized to the MH-60T stand.

MH-60T Jayhawk

In January 2007 a modernization program began to upgrade the HH-60J "Jayhawk" of the US Coast Guard (USCG) with improvements similar to those of the MH-60R. The equipment includes the more powerful T700-GE-401 turbines, a glass cockpit with five multi-purpose screens, a collision warning system (TCAS) , a HUD , a GPS-based navigation system and a Honeywell Primus 700A radar device. A Wescam MX-12D is used for the optical detection of targets. This is a spherical rotating tower with a combined video and thermal image (FLIR) and a parallel laser target illuminator . The cockpit avionics are partially identical to other USCG aircraft in order to facilitate maintenance. Furthermore, as part of the cooperation with the Homeland Security, armor against pistol and rifle ammunition is partially installed. A 7.62 mm MG M240 H or 12.7 mm Barrett  M107 sniper rifle can be installed in a mount in the door . The MH-60T "Jayhawk" have a range of 1300 km with two large 455 liter and one small (approx. 300 liter) drop-off additional tanks . By the end of 2015, all 42 helicopters are expected to be upgraded to remain in service until 2027.

MH-60R Seahawk

The MH-60R "Seahawk" is a multi-purpose on-board helicopter and combines the ASW capabilities of the SH-60B and SH-60F with the modernization of the UH-60M line. At the beginning it was called "Strikehawk", but later, like its predecessor, it was called "Seahawk". The US Navy plans to replace all SH-60B with the MH-60R by 2015 (a total of 298 units are to be procured for 18 Strike Squadrons). This helicopter is in addition to the 25 sides ejectable sonar buoys with the new 22-AQS ON / - Diving sonar -equipped and now has the same glass cockpit as the UH-60M variant. A digitally swiveling AN / APS-147 from Telephonics is installed under the fuselage for sea surveillance and an AN / AQS-44 C- FLIR from Raytheon is installed in the nose . The AN / ALQ-210 is installed for self-protection . The armament includes torpedoes, Hellfire missiles and machine guns in the door. Development began in the 1990s under the designation SH-60R, although it was initially planned to convert existing helicopters to this status. Later, however, the decision was made to use newly built machines. The first machine converted from an SH-60B took off for the first time on December 11, 1998, followed by another prototype and four pre-series machines. The first pre-production model flew on July 9, 2002, the first newly built helicopter on July 28, 2005. In March 2006 (after the US Navy had completed the troop tests) series production was released. After a training squadron (HSM-41) received the machine from 2006, the first operational squadron (HSM-71) was equipped from October 2007. Currently (2014) 144 helicopters are already in service.

MH-60S Seahawk

MH-60S Naval Hawk during transport work on USS Tarawa (LHA-1)

The MH-60S combines the cell of the UH-60 Black Hawk with the technology of the "Sea Hawk". The original name was CH-60S; the first flight took place on October 6, 1997. It is intended for the supply of ships, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), mine clearance and special operations. The "Naval Hawk", in the Navy under the code "Sea Hawk", is next to the MH-60R the all-purpose helicopter of the US Navy and replaces the CH-46 "Frog" and the HH-60H on the ships. She has been in the service of the US Navy since 2002 and 271 of them are planned.

SH-60B Seahawk

SH-60H Sea Hawk during transport work on the USNS Walter S. Diehl

The SH-60B "Seahawk" was commissioned to replace the SH-2 "Sea Sprite" LAMPS . The plus point was that a large part of the systems was taken over from the UH-60 and navalized. This reduced development time, costs and risks. The central airframe was designed around the LAMPS system and the rear landing gear was moved to the front in order to be able to maneuver better on ship decks. The first production model of the SH-60 is used by the US Navy , the Royal Australian Navy and the naval forces of Japan and Spain as an on- board helicopter for transport tasks and for combat against ships on frigates , cruisers and destroyers . In LAMPS design, he wears an APS-124 radar under his nose, on the left under the fuselage a launcher for 25 sonar buoys and a towed magnetic anomaly detector. He is armed with Penguin anti-ship missiles and torpedoes . To reduce the space required on ships, the Sea Hawk has an automatic rotor folding device and a foldable stern. A total of 181 units were built and delivered by 1996.

SH-60F Oceanhawk

The SH-60F "Ocean Hawk" is an aircraft carrier- based variant of the SH-60B. It was developed primarily for the US Navy for submarine hunting to replace the aging SH-3 "Sea King" . It has no search radar, but is equipped with a diving sonar AQS-13 , FLIR and EloUM . The Ocean Hawk is used in a slightly modified version under the designation S-70C in Taiwan . Greece operates a fleet of hybrid SH-60B / F-Sea Hawk. In the course of modernization measures, the SH-60 of the Navy are to be aligned with each other and equipped with a diving sonar and a new APS-147 radar in the MH-60R variant. The first flight took place on March 19, 1987 and 82 units were delivered by December 1994.

SH-60J Seahawk

Two experimental helicopters for testing Japanese avionics, which had their maiden flight on August 31, 1987, are designated as XSH-60J . The actual SH-60J are a version for the Japanese Navy, whose first machine had its maiden flight on May 10, 1991. 103 pieces were built under license at Mitsubishi . They are also known as the S-70B-3.

SH-60K Seahawk

The SH-60K (also known as SH-60 Kai) is an improved Seahawk variant for the Japanese Navy with a new rotor made of composite materials and a different profile. In addition, the fuselage was lengthened by 33 cm and new avionics were installed. The SH-60K took off on its maiden flight on August 9, 2001 and a total of 44 units are to be built, and delivery began in August 2005. A prototype SH-60K called the USH-60K is now used for support tasks.

SH-60R Seahawk

SH-60R "Strikehawk" is the original name of the MH-60R "Seahawk".

S-70B-1 Seahawk

The S-70B-1 is an export variant of the SH-60B for the Spanish Navy with the local designation HS.23.

S-70B-2 Seahawk

The S-70B-2 is an export version of the SH-60B for the Royal Australian Navy , which is equipped with Racal radar and avionics from Rockwell Collins . It has been replaced by 24 MH-60R since 2014.

S-70B-6 Aegeanhawk

The S-70B-6 "Aegan Hawk" is an export variant of the SH-60B for Greece. It was built with systems from SH-60B (radar) and SH-60F (diving sonar).

S-70B-7 Seahawk

The S-70B-7 is an export variant of the SH-60B for the Royal Thai Navy.

S-70B-28 Seahawk

The S-70B-28 is an export variant of the SH-60B for the Turkish Navy (25 units in service, 18 more were delivered in August 2012 (meanwhile 17 + 1 more were delivered on August 21, 2012), one as a bonus for the Delivery delays, which will replace the one with the same tail number that crashed on a test flight on January 11, 2001).

S-70C (M) -1 Thunderhawk

The S-70C (M) -1 "Thunderhawk" is an export variant of the SH-60B for Taiwan with systems similar to the SH-60F .

S-70L Seahawk

A Navy version of the SH-60B for the LAMPS-III program was initially designated as the S-70L .

YSH-60B

A Seahawk with its rotor blades folded on the aft of a frigate

The five prototypes for the SH-60B are called YSH-60B . The first flight of the machine took place on December 12, 1979. Two other helicopters are in permanent test use at Patuxent River under the designation NSH-60B .

Technical specifications

Dimensions UH60L

UH-60A sketch drawing

S-70 of the Austrian Armed Forces with external tanks

Parameter		UH-60L data	SH-60B data	S-70i data
length	hull	15.26 m
	total	19.76 m
height	Wheel up to and including rotor head	03.76 m		03.76 m
	above all	05.33 m	05.23 m	05.13 m
diameter	Main rotor	16.36 m
	Tail rotor	03.35 m
Cabin size (L × W × H)		3.25 m × 1.85 m × 1.32 m		3.80 m × 2.30 m × 1.30 m
Empty mass		05224 kg	06412 kg
Max. Takeoff mass		09980 kg	09925 kg	09979 kg
	with external load	10660 kg
	with external load and additional tanks	11110 kg
Max. External load		04050 kg (with kerosene for 20 min)
Engine		Turboshaft engine T700-GE-701C by General Electric	Turboshaft engine T700-GE-401 / 401C of General Electric	Turboshaft engine T700 -GE-701D by General Electric
power		2 × 1244 kW	2 × 1283 kW / 1342 kW	Start: 2 × 1487 kW (5 min) max: 2 × 1447 kW (30 s)
Auxiliary power unit		Turbomach T-62T-40-1 with 91 PS (67 kW)
Cruising speed		240 km / h		277 km / h
Max. speed	in level flight	296 km / h	276 km / h
	v NE	361 km / h
Service ceiling		5840 m	4510 m
Max. Rate of climb		11.43 m / s	10.16 m / s
Max. Hover flight height	in the ground effect	5550 m
	without floor effect	4400 m	1160 m
Fuel consumption		average 10.5 l / min
Range (flight time)	without additional tanks	1361 l: 550 km (130 min)		459 km (without reserve)
	with additional tanks	2 × 870 l: 1185 km (290 min) 4 × 870 l: 1759 km (460 min) 2 × 870 l + 2 × 1703 l: 2037 km (620 min)
Operating temperatures		+51 ° C to −55 ° C

All information given in a standard atmosphere .

Armament

Armament Blackhawk variants

Gun loading of 4,000 kg on two ESSS stub wings (External Stores Support System) with four external load stations

Movable armament in side windows for gunner

• 2 × M144 ball mounts each with a 7.62 mm US Ordnance M60D machine gun with 200 rounds of ammunition
• 2 × M144 ball mounts each with a 7.62 mm FN Manufacturing M240H machine gun with 200 rounds of ammunition
• 2 × M144 ball mounts each with a 7.62 mm Gatling revolver machine gun GAU-2B / A "Minigun" with 600 rounds of ammunition
• 2 × M144 ball mounts each with a 12.7 mm Gatling revolver machine gun GAU-19 with 1000 rounds of ammunition

Air-to-air guided missile

• 2 × ATAS (Air To Air Stinger) double guided missile launchers for 2 × Raytheon AIM-92 "Stinger" RMP Block I each - infrared controlled for short distances

Air-to-surface guided missiles ( anti-tank guided missiles )

• 4 × M299 guided missile suspensions for 4 × Boeing Corp / Martin Marietta AGM-114F / N "Hellfire" - laser-controlled

Unguided air-to-surface missiles

• 4 × LAU-261 rocket tube launch containers for 19 × unguided Hydra air-to-ground missiles each ; Caliber 70 mm / 2.75 inch
• 4 × LAU-260 rocket tube launch containers for 7 × unguided Hydra air-to-ground missiles each; Caliber 70 mm / 2.75 inch
• 4 × TBA 68-12C rocket tube launch containers for 12 × unguided SNEB air-to- surface rockets each ; Caliber 68 mm
• 4 × TBA 68-22C rocket tube launch containers for 22 × unguided SNEB air-to-ground missiles each; Caliber 68 mm

External container

• 2 × PMGS-MK containers, each with a 30 mm M230LF automatic cannon with 660 rounds of ammunition (only on MH-60L / AH-60DAP)
• 4 × drop-off additional fuel tanks with 870 liters (230 US gal) of kerosene
• 2 × additional disposable fuel tanks with 1,700 liters (450 US gal) kerosene

Armament Seahawk variants

Weapon loading of 4,000 kg on two stub wings with four external load stations

Movably installed barrel armament in side windows for gunner

• 2 × M144 ball mounts each with a 7.62 mm FN Manufacturing M240D machine gun with 200 rounds of ammunition
• 2 × M144 ball mounts each with a 12.7 mm GAU-19 (M2) machine gun with 110 rounds of ammunition

Torpedoes

• 3 × Raytheon Mk.54 MAKO lightweight torpedo (caliber 325 mm)
• 3 × Alliant Techsystems Mk.46 lightweight torpedo (325 mm caliber)

Air-to-surface guided missile

• 4 × M299 guided missile suspensions for 4 × Boeing Corp / Martin Marietta AGM-114F / N "Hellfire" - laser-controlled
• 2 × Kongsberg AGM-119B "Penguin Mk.2" (Mk. 2 Mod 7)

Unguided air-to-surface missiles

• 4 × LAU-261 rocket tube launch containers for 19 × laser-guided APKWS air-to-surface missiles each ; Caliber 70 mm / 2.75 inch

External container

• 2 × additional disposable fuel tanks with 750 liters (200 US gal) of kerosene
• 3 × disposable additional fuel tanks with 455 liters (120 US gal) kerosene

Self-protection systems

active

• 2 × Tracor M130 decoys launcher with 30 decoys (36 mm wide such as M-1 or M-206 heat flares) in Blackhawk variants
• 2 × BAE Systems AN / ALE-39 decoys with 30 decoys each (36 mm or 147 mm wide, e.g. RR-129 chaff cartridges or MJU-8 / B heat flares). A decoy launcher is installed on both sides in the stern.

passive

• 1 × BAE Systems AN / ALQ-144 (V) 6 "disco light" - infrared guided missile countermeasure devices (IRCM)
• 2 × HIRSS exhaust gas cooling diffusers (Hover IR Suppression System or infrared suppression exhaust air cooler in the engine outlet)
• self-sealing, crash-proof fuel tanks in the hull
• 4 × AN / APR-39AV (2) - radar warning sensors
• 4 × ATK AN / AAR-47V (2) - guided missile warning

Appearance in the film

The Black Hawk became known among other things through the film Black Hawk Down by Ridley Scott from 2001, which is based on a true story in Somalia . In 1993, two MH-60s were shot down with anti-tank shells in the Battle of Mogadishu , which led to bloody street fighting between thousands of Somali militiamen and 99 entrenched US Army rangers and Delta Force soldiers . At the time, the partly secret variant MH-60 was in use, and both helicopters had to be blown up, as there was neither technically nor tactically a viable chance of recovery.

Furthermore, the Black Hawk appeared in the version "HH-60G Pave Hawk" in the film Act of Valor by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh from 2012, in which it appeared as a means of transport and airborne protection of the area of ​​operation. There he was equipped with the M240H machine gun on an M144 ball mount.

Military users

As already listed under variants, the helicopter is mainly used in the S-70 variant, but the following countries also use the helicopter in other versions and expansion stages:

 Afghanistan

Afghan Air Force : 159 UH-60A (supply planned from autumn 2017, refurbished ex-US Army units)

 Egypt

Egyptian Air Force : 8 S-70s

 Australia

Royal Australian Navy : 40 , 16 S-70B-2, 24 MH-60R (the latter delivered from December 2013 to August 2016 to replace the former)

 Argentina

Fuerza Aérea Argentina : 1 S-1-70A-30 VIP

 Bahrain

Royal Bahraini Air Force : 20 , 2 UH-60L, 18 UH-60M

 Brazil

Força Aérea Brasileira : 16 UH-60L

Exército Brasileiro : 7 , 4 S-70A-36, 3 UH-60M (the latter ordered in 2014)

Marinha : 6 S-70B / SH-60B (supply 2012/2015)

 Brunei

Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei : 16 , 4 S-70A, 12 S-70i ordered plus 10 options (additions December 2013 to 2015)

 Chile

Fuerza Aérea de Chile : 13 , 1 S-70A (UH-60L), 12 S-70i (6 in delivery 2018 and 6 more planned)

 Denmark

Danish Air Force : 9 MH-60R (influx 2016 to 2018)

 Greece

Greek Navy : 7 MH-60R planned

 Hong Kong

Hong Kong Government Flying Service: 6 S-70A-27 (2 already with the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force)

 India

Indian Navy : 24 MH-60R (ordered February 2020)

 Israel

Israeli Air Force : 49 , 10 UH-60A (ex US Army), 15 S-70A-50, 24 S-70A-55 (UH-60L)

 Japan

Air Self-Defense Forces : 54 UH-60J

Ground Self-Defense Forces : 29 UH-60JA

Marine Self-Defense Forces : 175 SH / UH-60J / K (19 UH-60J, 103 SH-60J, 53 SH-60K)

 Jordan

Jordanian Air Force : 36 , 3 S-70A-11, 3 S-70i, 8 UH-60A, 8 UH-60L, 14 UH-60M

 Qatar

Qatar Emiri Air Force : 22 , 10 MH-60R, 12 MH-60S (Intent to purchase June 2012)

 Colombia

Ejército Nacional de Colombia: 62 , 55 UH-60L Halcón and 7 S-70i Halcón, the latter for the special forces aviator battalion in Fort Tolemaida

Fuerza Aérea Colombiana: 19 , 12 AH-60L Arpía III / IV, 7 UH-60A and Halcón

Policia de Colombia (Polnal): 27 UH-60A (used by Colombia in several tranches, taken over from US Army stocks)

 Croatia

Croatian Air Force and Air Defense : 2 UH-60M (to be added in 2020)

 Latvia

Latvian Air Force : 4 UH-60s (ordered in 2018)

 Malaysia

Malaysian Air Force : 2 S-70A-34s (plus takeover of former aircraft from Brunei in September 2015)

 Morocco

Gendarmerie: 2 S-70A-26

 Mexico

Fuerza Aérea Mexicana : 24 , 6 S-70A-24 / UH-60L, 18 UH-60M (the latter ordered in 2014)

Armada de México : 18 , 10 UH-60M, 8 MH-60R (the latter ordered in 2018)

Policía Federal : 13 , 7 UH-60L, 6 UH-60M (plus another civil registered S-70i of the Jalisco Police)

Seven more UH-60Ms were ordered in 2016.

 Austria

Federal Army : 9 UH-60L (or S-70A-42, since 2002)

 Poland

Police: 2 S-70i (appointed in 2018)

Polish special forces : 4 S-70i (delivery 2019)

 Philippines

Philippine Air Force : 2 S-70A-5 VIPs (1 crashed) - up to 16 more S-70s planned, contract planned for 2019

 Saudi Arabia

In addition to the S-70, a total of 72 UH-60Ms were ordered

Royal Guard: UH-60M

Royal Saudi Land Forces: 21 S-70A-1 / L (UH-60A and UH-60L standard), UH-60M

Royal Saudi Navy: 10 MH-60R Seahawk ordered

Saudi Air National Guard: 139 , 64 UH-60M, 75 HH-60M

 Sweden

Swedish Air Force : 15 UH-60M (influx 2012)

 Singapore

Republic of Singapore Air Force : 8 S-70B (incl. 2 reordered in 2013 for delivery in 2016)

 Slovakia

Air Force of the Slovak Republic : 9 UH-60M (influx since 2017)

 Spain

Armada Española : 14 , 12 S-70B1, 2 SH-60F

 South Korea

South Korean Air Force : 15 , 5 VH-60P, 10 HH-60P

South Korean Army : 140 UH-60P

South Korean Navy : 15 S-70 / UH-60P / MH-60S

 Taiwan

Air Force of the Republic of China : 17 , 3 S-70C-1 VIP, 10 S-70C-1A, 4 S-70C-6 (1 crashed)

Army aviators : 60 UH-60M (influx since late 2014)

Naval aviators : 20 S-70C (M) -1/2

 Thailand

Royal Thai Army : 15 , 7 S-70A-43 and 8 UH-60L / M

Royal Thai Navy : 8 , 6 S-70B-7 and 2 MH-60S

4 UH-60M 2012 reordered;

 Tunisia

Tunisian Air Force : 16 UH-60M Battle Hawk

 Turkey

225 , 98 S-70 Blackhawk, 18 S-70B-28 Seahawk in the inflow, 109 T-70 Blackhawk in the inflow, which are to be distributed as follows.

Land forces : 20 T-70s

Naval Forces : 30 S-70B-28

Air Force : 6 T-70s

Special Forces Command: 11 T-70

Gendarmerie : 30 T-70

Message service (electronic system command): 2 T-70

National Police (General Security Directorate): 20 T-70

Forestry and Water Ministry: 20 T-70

 United Arab Emirates

UAE Air Force : 25 , 13 UH-60L, 12 UH-60M

 United States

United States Air Force : 112 HH-60G Pave Hawk

United States Army : ?

United States Marine Corps : 9 VH-60N White Hawk

United States Navy : > 300 , 181 SH-60B Seahawk, 76 SH-60F Oceanhawk, 42 ​​HH-60H Rescue Hawk, MH-60R Seahawk, MH-60S Knighthawk

See also

• List of helicopter types

literature

• Mark Bowden : Black Hawk Down - no man is left behind. (= Heyne 1 Heyne general series 20116). Heyne, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-453-86831-5 .

Web links

Commons : Sikorsky UH-60  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

• Website manufacturer Sikorsky (English)
• Fas.org UH-60 (English)
• The S-70A-42-Black-Hawk in Austria
• List of all users (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Sikorsky finally gets its own Black Hawk , article from ctpost.com (English, accessed May 20, 2017)
2. ↑ sikorskyarchives.com , accessed February 15, 2015
3. ↑ FlugRevue December 2010, pp. 45–48, Sikorsky UH-60
4. ↑ Technical description of the Black Hawk's rotor head
5. ↑ ^{a b} Richard A. Poland: TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION: ROLES AND IMPLICATIONS IN ARMY AVIATION SPECIAL OPERATIONS. (PDF) AVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, 2008, p. 27 , accessed on March 2, 2014 (English). 
6. ↑ Michael J. Durant, Steven Hartov: In the Company of Heroes. GP Putnam's Sons, New York 2003, p. 162.
7. ↑ avia.russian.ee ( Memento from February 6, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
8. ↑ ^{a b} Designations: US ARMY / US AIR FORCE
9. ↑ Illmitz reed fire - Black Hawk in action orf.at, April 3, 2020, update April 4, 2020, accessed April 4, 2020.
10. ↑ FlugRevue October 2011, p. 14, First S-70i delivered
11. ↑ Turkey signs deal for local Black Hawk production, Flightglobal, June 10, 2016
12. ↑ FliegerRevue June 2011, p.8, Turkey buys Black Hawk
13. ↑ Tamir Eshel: Sikorsky to Supply Turkey 109 Locally Built S-70 Based Utility Helicopters. In: Defense Update :. April 24, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2019 (American English). 
14. ↑ UH-60M BLACK HAWK Program Gains Momentum (August 6, 2004)
15. ↑ Sikorsky Aircraft Delivers First New Production UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopter to US Army (July 31, 2006)
16. ↑ Beth Stevenson: Philippine navy orders two AW159 Wildcats. March 31, 2016, Retrieved May 29, 2019 (UK English). 
17. ↑ HH-60W flows . In: Combat Aircraft July 2019, p. 10 f.
18. ^ Office of Aviation Forces. MH-60T: Jayhawk. United States Coast Guard, accessed May 21, 2013 . 
19. ↑ FlugRevue December 2009, pp. 38–42, Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk in use for the first time
20. ↑ FlugRevue September 2008, pp. 53–56, Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk - detailed data sheet and versions
21. ↑ Afghan Air Force to field Black Hawk helos in place of Mi-17s, Janes, November 21, 2016 ( Memento of November 22, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
22. ↑ Afghanistan begins Black Hawk operations, Janes, May 9, 2018
23. ↑ Dominic Perry: Final Australian MH-60R Seahawk delivered. Retrieved August 1, 2016, May 29, 2019 (UK English). 
24. ↑ Chile receives first batch of Black Hawk helicopters | Jane's 360. Retrieved May 29, 2019 . 
25. ↑ Chile's S-70i helicopters to be used for CSAR, special ops, Janes, September 23, 2016 ( Memento from September 24, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
26. ↑ Euronaval 2018: Lockheed Martin prepares to deliver final Danish MH-60R helicopter, eyes future markets | Jane's 360. Retrieved May 29, 2019 . 
27. ↑ US approves MH-60R sale to Greece. Janes, July 15, 2019
28. ↑ US signs deals with India for MH-60R, Apache helicopters, Janes, February 25, 2020
29. ↑ Jordan receives additional Black Hawk helos ( February 2, 2018 memento in the Internet Archive ) Janes, July 25, 2017, accessed May 29, 2019
30. ↑ Jordan completes Black Hawk deliveries Janes, January 30, 2018, accessed January 31, 2018
31. ↑ Revista Defensa Infodefensa.com: Estados Unidos Donara seis a Black Hawk Colombia - Noticias Infodefensa America. November 23, 2018, Retrieved May 29, 2019 (Spanish). 
32. ↑ US donates UH-60M helicopters to Croatia, Janes, October 17, 2018
33. ↑ Latvia signs for Black Hawk helos | Jane's 360. Retrieved May 29, 2019 . 
34. ↑ Mexico approved to buy MH-60R helo , Janes, April 20, 2018
35. ^ Mexico orders more Black Hawk helos ( Memento from April 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), Janes, April 12, 2016
36. ↑ DOPPELADLER.COM - Aircraft of the Austrian Air Force. Retrieved May 29, 2019 . 
37. ^ Remigiusz Wilk: Poland's GROM special forces unit receives Black Hawk helicopters. December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019 (American English). 
38. ^ Philippines selects Black Hawk for combat-utility requirement | Jane's 360. Retrieved May 29, 2019 . 
39. ↑ Stephen Trimble: US government clears MH-60R sale to Saudi Arabia. In: Flightglobal.com. May 23, 2015, accessed on May 23, 2015 (English): "The US State Department has approved a requested sale of 10 Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters to the Saudi Arabian government." 
40. ^ Jen Judson: Saudi Arabian National Guard helicopter force takes shape. In: defensenews.com. February 23, 2017, accessed February 27, 2017 . 
41. ↑ Gareth Jennings: DoD procures new Black Hawk helos worth USD3.8 billion for US and Saudi Arabia. (No longer available online.) In: janes.com. July 7, 2017, archived from the original on July 10, 2017 ; accessed on May 29, 2019 (English). 
42. ↑ Craig Hoyle: PICTURES: Swedish military gets first Black Hawk helicopters. In: flightglobal.com. January 18, 2012, accessed January 18, 2012 . 
43. ↑ AGLO solutions (www.aglo.sk): Prvé dva vrtuľníky Black Hawk sú už na Slovensku :: Ministry of Defense of Slovak Republic. Retrieved May 29, 2019 . 
44. ↑ Spanish Navy receives first SH-60F helicopter, Janes, August 9, 2017 ( Memento from August 13, 2017 in the Internet Archive )
45. ↑ Taiwan orders additional Black Hawk helos, Janes, September 2, 2016 ( Memento of September 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
46. ↑ Tunisia getting more Black Hawks, ScanEagle support, October 4th, 2016  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as broken. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
47. ↑ Türkiye "Kara Şahin" üretecek. Retrieved May 29, 2019 .