• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

UH-60 BLACK HAWK

	Army ACAT IC Program 1,463 systems Total program cost (TY$) $3.98B Average unit cost (TY$) $7.3M Full-rate production 4QFY82 Prime Contractor Sikorsky Aircraft General Electric

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The UH-60 Black Hawk is a single rotor medium-lift helicopter powered by twin General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft engines rated at 1,700 shp each. The Black Hawk helicopter provides utility and assault lift capability across a wide range of missions. The Black Hawk is the primary helicopter for air assault, general support, and aeromedical evacuation units. In addition, modified Black Hawks operate as command and control, electronic warfare, and special operations platforms. Since 1989 Sikorsky has been producing the UH-60L version that provides 24 percent more power than the original 1970 UH-60A model. The lift capacity of this versatile system has a significant dominant maneuver as well as focused logistics application.

The Army began fielding the UH-60 in 1978. From 1978 until 1989 the Army procured UH-60A model aircraft. In October 1989, a power train upgrade resulted in a model designation change from UH-60A to UH-60L. As of the end of FY97, the Army had procured 483 UH-60L models for a total UH-60 acquisition of 1,463 aircraft. The Army is in the fifth and final year of a multi-year procurement contract calling for the delivery of 60 aircraft per year.

A Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) is planned for the UH-60 beginning in FY99.

The Army is currently type-qualifying the UH-60Q MEDEVAC version of the Black Hawk, which is expected to be completed in FY98. There are potential live fire testing issues regarding the UH-60Q. The scope and magnitude of this qualification is being examined is to determine if a TEMP is required and the extent of DOT&E oversight.

This program is in the latter stages of production. A program to extend the life expectancy of the aircraft is in order. A dialogue between the Army and the DOT&E concerning the magnitude and scope of the UH-60 SLEP will begin in FY 98. "What are the requirements?" and "How might they be measured?" are questions to address in the initial discussions. The specifics of the answers to those questions are intended to lead to the development of a Test and Evaluation Master Plan. Issues of interest include retention of current operational capabilities, improved reliability and maintainability, reduced operating and support costs, an integrated cockpit and a digital architecture for Force XXI compatibility.