The Black Hawk is Sikorsky's twin-engine medium-lift military utility helicopter family, developed from the U.S. Army's 1972 UTTAS requirement and fielded from 1978-79. The family includes the U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue variant, which added rescue-focused mission equipment, aerial refueling, and night and all-weather systems for personnel recovery and medevac work.
Exact model: Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk. The UH-60M is a modernized Black Hawk variant used by the U.S. Army and allies; public combat use includes Afghanistan and Iraq service, and Black Hawk-family use in Ukraine, although many Ukrainian aircraft are UH-60A/S-70 rather than UH-60M.
Exact model: Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk. The UH-60M is a modernized Black Hawk variant used by the U.S. Army and allies; public combat use includes Afghanistan and Iraq service, and Black Hawk-family use in Ukraine, although many Ukrainian aircraft are UH-60A/S-70 rather than UH-60M.
Exact model: Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk. The UH-60M is a modernized Black Hawk variant used by the U.S. Army and allies; public combat use includes Afghanistan and Iraq service, and Black Hawk-family use in Ukraine, although many Ukrainian aircraft are UH-60A/S-70 rather than UH-60M.
Sikorsky S-70 / S-70i Black Hawk export family. S-70/UH-60-family aircraft have been used by multiple operators in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, and Ukraine; exact exported S-70 variants vary by operator.
Timeline
The Army sought a simple, robust, reliable utility helicopter to meet projected air-mobile requirements around the world.
Sources: Black Hawk Helicopter celebrates 40 years with the Army | Army
The Army accepted the first production UH-60A Black Hawk in 1978.
Sources: Black Hawk Helicopter celebrates 40 years with the Army | Army
The Black Hawk entered service with Army aviation units in 1979.
Sources: Black Hawk Helicopter celebrates 40 years with the Army | Army
Sikorsky and the Army began the UH-60L upgrade to restore performance lost to weight growth in the earlier A model.
Sources: Sikorsky S-70A: UH-60L Black Hawk Family | Sikorsky Archives
The first UH-60L was delivered to the Army, adding more power and an external cargo hook capacity of 9,000 pounds.
Sources: Sikorsky S-70A: UH-60L Black Hawk Family | Sikorsky Archives
Army anniversary coverage says two MH-60L Black Hawk helicopters were downed during the Task Force Ranger operation in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Sources: Remembering a golden legacy: The Battle of Mogadishu 25 years later
The Air Force fact sheet says Pave Hawks provided continuous combat search and rescue coverage for NATO air forces during Operation Allied Force and recovered two isolated Air Force pilots.
Sources: HH-60G Pave Hawk | Air Force
The Sikorsky archives note the Black Hawk's first flight on October 17, 1974, and more than 5,000 deliveries to customers.
Sources: Sikorsky S-70A: UH-60L Black Hawk Family | Sikorsky Archives
.jpg)
