Black Hawk
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Mission
Provide air assault, general support, aeromedical evacuation, command and control and special operations support to combat and stability and support operations.
Entered Army Service
1979
Description and Specifications
The UH 60 Black Hawk is a utility tactical transport helicopter that replaces the UH-1 "Huey". The versatile Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of The Army, due to dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability, and will serve as The Army’s utility helicopter in the Objective Force. On the asymmetric battlefield, it provides the commander the agility to get to the fight quicker and to mass effects throughout the battlespace across the full spectrum of conflict. An entire 11-person, fully-equipped infantry squad can be lifted in a single Black Hawk, transported faster than in predecessor systems, in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk can reposition a 105 mm Howitzer, its crew of six, and lift up to 30 rounds of ammunition in a single lift. The aircraft’s critical components and systems are armored or redundant, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers.
| UH-60A | UH-60L | |
|---|---|---|
| Max. Gross Weight | 20,250 lbs | 22,000 lbs, 23,500 (external cargo) |
| Cruising Speed | 139 kt | 150kt |
| Endurance | 2.3 hrs | 2.1 hrs |
| External Load | 320 nm | 306 nm |
| Max. Gross Weight | 8000 lbs | 9000 lbs |
| Internal Load | 2640 lbs (or 11 combat-equipped troops) | |
| Crew | 4 (2 pilots; 2 crew chiefs) | |
| Armament | Two 7.62mm machine guns | |
Manufacturer
United Technologies (Stratford, CT); General Electric (Lynn, MA)
