The conflict saw the first use of the UH-60 in combat.įour prototypes were constructed, with the first YUH-60A flying on 17 October 1974. UH-60A Black Hawks over Port Salinas during the invasion of Grenada, 1983. The UTTAS requirements for improved reliability, survivability and lower life-cycle costs resulted in features such as dual-engines with improved hot and high altitude performance, and a modular design (reduced maintenance footprint) run-dry gearboxes ballistically tolerant, redundant subsystems (hydraulic, electrical and flight controls) crashworthy crew ( armored) and troop seats dual-stage oleo main landing gear ballistically tolerant, crashworthy main structure quieter, more robust main and tail rotor systems and a ballistically tolerant, crashworthy fuel system. Transport within the C-130 limited the UTTAS cabin height and length. The RFP also included air transport requirements. The Army released its UTTAS request for proposals (RFP) in January 1972. Based on experience in Vietnam, the Army required significant performance, survivability and reliability improvements from both UTTAS and the new powerplant. The Army also initiated the development of a new, common turbine engine for its helicopters that would become the General Electric T700. In the late 1960s, the United States Army began forming requirements for a helicopter to replace the UH-1 Iroquois, and designated the program as the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS). Black Hawks have served in combat during conflicts in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and other areas in the Middle East.ĭevelopment Initial requirement Army use, the UH-60 family has been exported to several nations. Modified versions have also been developed for the U.S. Improved UH-60L and UH-60M utility variants have also been developed. This was followed by the fielding of electronic warfare and special operations variants of the Black Hawk. Army in 1979, to replace the Bell UH-1 Iroquois as the Army's tactical transport helicopter. Named after the Native American war leader Black Hawk, the UH-60A entered service with the U.S.

The Army designated the prototype as the YUH-60A and selected the Black Hawk as the winner of the program in 1976, after a fly-off competition with the Boeing Vertol YUH-61. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition in 1972.

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Series of military utility transport helicoptersĪ UH-60 Black Hawk from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of United States Army Europe.

Blackhawk rescue mission 2