SIKORSKY S-70A UH-60 Black Hawk

US Army designations: UH-60A, UH-60L and UH-60Q Black Hawk, AH-60L, EH-60A, MH-60A, MH-60K and MH-60L
US Air Force designations: UH-60A, HH-60G, MH-60G Pave Hawk
US Marine Corps designation: VH-60N
Israel Defence Force name: Yanshuf (Owl)

TYPE:

• Medium-lift, utility, and infantry squad transport helicopter.

PROGRAMME:

• UH-60A declared winner of US Army Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition against the Boeing Vertol YUH-61A on December 23 1976 after seven months of of competitive flight tests.
• The first flight of the first of three YUH-60A competitive prototypes flew on October 17 1974.
• Sikorsky's selected design for production was designated the UH-60A with the name Black Hawk.
• First flight of the production aircraft was in October 1978.
• By 1995, some 1,050 UH-60s were still in service.

DESIGN FEATURES:

• The UH-60 represented a new generation in technology for performance, survivability and ease of operation when introduced to replace the UH-1 as the US Army's main squad-carrying helicopter.
• It has a four-blade main rotor, which is tolerant up to 23 mm hits.
• Two pairs of tail rotor blades fastened in crossbeam arrangement, mounted to starboard.
• Transmission system is still operable for up to 30 minutes following total oil loss.
• Also includes crashworthy fuel cells that are self sealing up to 7.62 mm (Thanks to Robert Van Vleck - UH-60 System Instructor ) and armour-protected seats for pilot and co-pilot.
• An External Stores Support System, with conversion kits delivered from early 1986 allows the carriage on four pylons of auxiliary fuel stores or weapons.
• The UH-60 is equipped to carry a crew of 3 and 11 troops.
• The cabin also makes the UH-60 suitable for the medevac, reconnaissance or troop resupply role and is also fitted with an external cargo hook rated at 3629 kg (8,000 lb).
• The UH-60 can also be easily airlifted with the use of kits designed by Sikorsky.
• The USAF's Lockheed C-130 can carry one, C-141 can carry two, and the C-5 can carry six UH-60s.
• Following 1981 a YEH-60C prototype was first flown on September 24 1981. This was equipped with 'Quick Fix IIB' ECM to intercept, monitor, and jam enemy communications.
• This involved the conversion of 40 UH-60As to EH-60C ECM/ESM configuration.
• Under the US Army's Special Electronic Mission Aircraft programme, an initial 132 EH-60Cs were to be built, but later reduced to 66 helicopters.

POWER PLANT:

• Two 1,210 kW (1,622 shp) General Electric T700-GE-700 turboshafts fitted in the UH-60A's.
• From late 1989 the new variant UH-60L has two T700-GE-701C engines, each rating at 1,342 kW (1,800 shp).
• Two crashworthy, bulletproof fuel cells, with combined usable capacity of 1,361 litres (360 US gallons; 299.5 Imp gallons).
• The transmission system is also operable for up to 30 minutes following total oil loss.

ARMAMENT:

• New production UH-60As and Ls incorporate hardpoints for an external stores support system (ESSS).
• This consists of a combination of fixed provisions built into the airframe and four removable external pylons from which fuel tanks and a variety of weapons can be suspended.
• It is able to carry more than 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) on each side and the ESSS can also accommodate up two 870 litre (230 US gallon; 191.5 Imp gallon) fuel tanks outboard, and two 1,703 litre (450 US gallon; 375 Imp gallon) tanks inboard.
• This allows the UH-60A to self-deploy 1,200 n miles (2,222 km; 1,381 miles) without refueling.
• The ESSS also enables the Black Hawk to carry Hellfire laser-guided anti-armour missiles, gun or M56 mine dispensing pods, ECM packs, rockets and motorcycles.
• Up to 16 Hellfires can be carried externally on the ESSS, with another 16 in the cabin to provide the capability to land and reload.
• Laser designation can be provided by Bell OH-58 helicopter or ground troops.
• Two pintle mounts in cabin on each side can each accommodate a 0.50 in calibre General Electric GECAL 50 or 7.62 mm six-barrel Minigun.