Sikorsky UH-60 Black
Hawk
Notes: The UH-60
is the US military's primary troop transport and assault helicopter, and is also
used by Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, China, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Japan, Jordan,
and Mexico. It replaced the UH-1 in
the service of most of those countries, bringing improvements in cargo carrying,
crashworthiness, and maneuverability.
The Black Hawk has no ejection seats, and is not capable on in-flight
refueling except on certain models.
The UH-60 is the result of an Army program for a new light general-purpose
helicopter, called the UTTAS (Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System)
program, started in 1972. Several
designs were initially submitted, but in short order the competition came down
to the YUH-60A (the prototype Black Hawk), and the Boeing/Vertol YUH-61.
After numerous fly-offs, field tests, and use of limited numbers by the 1st
Air Cav and 101st Air Assault divisions, the YUH-60A was chosen and
became the UH-60A Black Hawk, and entered mass production and service.
Within a few years, it has almost totally replaced the Huey in the
Regular Army, and a little later in the National Guard and Reserves.
Civilians also use the S-70 (the parent model of the Black Hawk); they
are common Air Life helicopters and are also used for roles ranging from
construction in inaccessible areas (such as putting in power scaffolds on top of
mountains and ridges), and with luxury models, are used as executive
transportation. One UH-60A was kept
by Sikorsky for internal, company research.
Initial LRIP began in October 1978 and full production and service
started in June 1979.
Base Black Hawks
The original
version of the Black Hawk was the UH-60A, produced from 1977-1989.
It carried a crew of four, including two door gunners/crew chiefs and the
pilot and co-pilot. It also could
carry up to 11 fully-equipped infantrymen, 14 in a high-load and
reduced-equipment capacity, or six Medevac patients.
In extremis, up to 20
lightly-equipped troops may be squeezed into the passenger cabin. When used as a
Medevac, the crew is increased to six, with a doctor or PA and a nurse or med
tech added to the crew. It was equipped with two General Electric T700-GE-701
gas turbine engines developing 1622 shaft horsepower each.
The rotor blades are armored against hits of up to a 23mm weapon, with a
floor able to withstand a 14.5mm machinegun round.
The rotors are made from a composite of titanium and fiberglass, and the
UH-60s have four rotors blades. The blades are “cable cutter” blades, designed
to cut through struck power wires or other aerial cables instead of tangling on
them. The UH-60A can carry up to 3.63 tons on an external hook under the
helicopter, or 2.54 tons internally.
The Black Hawk uses a wheeled landing gear configuration; these do not
retract for flight. The landing
gear consists of two wheels on struts behind the cargo cabin, and a rear “tail
dragger” small wheel near the end of the fuselage.
For arctic/snow operations, a pair of skis can be attached to the main
gear. On each side of the cargo cabin is a sliding lockable door; these are
almost always kept open on cargo and infantry-transport versions to allow the
door gunners to operate. Medevac
Black Hawks are a notable exception, and normally operate with the doors shut.
The internal fuel tanks are self-sealing and designed to not catch fire
in a crash. The UH-60A is equipped with one VHF-FM, one UHF-FM, and one
VHF-AM/FM radios. Internal de-icer are provided for the rotors as well as the
windshield.
The UH-60A can
be equipped with an ESSS (External Stores Support System).
This consists of a graphite-epoxy composite wing-like assembly added to
each side of the aircraft above the cargo compartment doors, and weighs 300
kilograms each. Each wing has two
hardpoints, which may carry an 872-liter and a 1703-liter self-sealing external
fuel tank on each winglet.
Alternatively, each hardpoint may carry eight Hellfire missiles, a 19-round
2.75-inch FFAR pod, two Stinger SAMs, M-240, M-60, or M-3M machineguns, or an
M-230 30mm Chaingun and ammunition (on one outer hardpoint, with the inner
hardpoint carrying the ammunition), making the Black Hawk a sort of
ad hoc attack helicopter. (It should
be noted that if the UH-60 is equipped with Hellfires, some other unit of
vehicle must designate the target, or the Black Hawk must carry a laser
designation pod on its winglets; the UH-60 itself has no designation
capability.) Every UH-60 has the internal connections to mount the ESSS, even if
the ESSS is not mounted. At first, these winglets were angled down, to reduce
the Black Hawk’s footprint; however, it was discovered that when there were
external fuel tanks were carried on the outer hardpoints, the fuel tanks
obstructed the operation of the door guns. They were replaced with winglets that
stretched straight out. In the cargo compartment, the Black Hawk may carry a
700-liter fuel tank, with only the door gunners normally being carried in the
back, though two lightly-equipped soldiers can squeeze in; alternatively, extra
ammunition for what is carried on the ESSS may be carried to reload weapons.
Underneath, instead of cargo, the UH-60A can carry an aerial mine delivery
system such as the Volcano and M-56 systems.
The UH-60A (and
later Black Hawks) has a 75kW (100 hp) APU to provide power for self-starting
and for ground power.
In the 1980s,
there were a spate of crashes on Army UH-60As. (This was before any had been
exported.) The Black Hawk started
being called by the troops things like “Crash Hawk” and “Lawn Dart.”
This was traced to the UH-60As electronically-controlled flight systems,
which proved to be susceptible to radio frequency interference (RFI), from
sources ranging from radar antennas, cell phone towers, to illegal high-power CB
radio setups. Shielding was
retrofitted, based on the Navy’s EMP shielding, and this solved the problem with
RFI, in addition to giving the Black Hawk EMP resistance.
The UH-60L is an
updated version of the UH-60A; the primary difference between the two is that
the UH-60L has two T-700-GE-401C engines, each with a rating of 1857 shaft
horsepower. The UH-60L version of
the Black Hawk was designed for airmobile assaults, with uprated engines and an
improved gearbox for improved lifting capability. The UH-60L has a Hover IR
Suppression System (HIRSS), which cools the exhaust of the Black Hawk in both
Hover mode and regular forward flight, giving IR missiles trying to hit the
UH-60L a one level penalty. (The earlier UH-60A’s exhaust cooling was not very
effective during hover operations.) With the new engines and a new cargo sling
load attachment system, the UH-60L is able to sling load 4.08 tons. Recently,
the Goodrich Integrated Mechanical Diagnostic Health and Usage Management System
(IMD-HUMS0, which tells the crew the mechanical integrity of the helicopter,
including fuel systems, hydraulics, and battle damage.
US UH-60Ls are equipped with this system as of 2011; some foreign sales
have been UH-60Ls with the system, such as Korea, Japan, and Korea. Israeli
UH-60Ls have an aerial refueling probe.
The UH-60V is
essentially a UH-60L with the glass cockpit of the UH-60M and an AFCS installed.
Another small flight computer was added, allowing for the glass cockpit
to be programmed and further software improvements to be made.
It is essentially a stopgap chopper between the UH-60L and UH-60M.
The CH-60E was a
proposed variant of the UH-60A, for use by the Marine Corps.
It had sand shields for the engine intakes, a weather radar, a FLIR
viewer, and a GPS, in addition to the normal configuration of the UH-60A.
The Marines chose instead to go with the heavily-upgraded UH-1Y Venom,
and the CH-60E did not make it off the drawing boards and computer simulations.
It’s inclusion below is a “what-if.”
The UH-60M is
the latest variant of the Black Hawk GP platform.
One of the improvements was added after experience with the UH-60s in
Afghanistan’s highlands; functional altitude was increased by 25%, while speed
was improved by 16%. The engines
were upgraded to T700-GE-701D engines that developed 2000 Shaft Horsepower per
engine. The new engines and new
wide-chord blades allow for an increase in cargo capacity of 454 kilograms.
The controls were modified; pilots had problems with the UH-60A control
suite when using the new engines on the UH-60L. Originally four types were
built; one was an upgrade from the UH-60A to UH-60M standard, another was an
upgrade from UH-60L to the UH-60M standard. The third was a conversion of the
HH-60L to the HH-60M standard, and the fourth was a new-built UH-60M.
The UH-60M has
two flight computers, one as a backup for the other.
The UH-60M has an improved tactical modem, making the UH-60M part of the
“Tactical Internet.” This includes
the IMD-HUMS. The UH-60M has a glass cockpit, with most aircraft information
presented on multifunction displays, and few actual gauges.
There is a cockpit and flight recorder; these are versions of
off-the-shelf technology. The
UH-60M has a GPS with INS backup, and mission plans can be digitally loaded onto
the flight computers as software.
The UH-60M has enhanced radios and a new AFCS.
They have a ruggedized gearbox, with wide-chord blades for improved
lifting and performance at high altitude, and modifications for “hot and high”
operations. (These blades were
designed originally for the S-92 Sikorsky Company project, trimmed down in
radius a bit.) They have a mapping module to show the pilots exactly where they
are at any time. UH-60As and UH-60L began, starting in 2008, to be upgraded to
the UH-60M standard, with most of the earlier standard having been converted to
the new standard by 2015, and full conversion expected by 2018.
About 193
UH-60As received an “interim upgrade,” consisting of the installation of UH-60L
engines, some of the avionics (mostly in the cockpit), and the new UH-60L tail.
About half the UH-60As also lacked an ESSS capability, and this has been
added to those who were not capable.
Since the UH-60As required more refitting than the UH-60L to bring it up
to UH-60M standard, their upgrades were done in a piecemeal (though planned)
upgrade path, and these UH-60As were some of the last Black Hawks fully
upgraded. As many of the new features were sort of “tacked on” at first. these
partially-updated UH-60A+s were often known to pilots and air assault units as
“Velcro Hawks,” though it is still officially known as a Black Hawk. The A+’s
are, surprisingly, one of the fastest versions of the Black Hawk.
At first, the US
Army looked beyond the UH-60M, to what was then known as the UH-60X.
However, the Army has moved on from (though Sikorsky is still in the
running) the UH-60-Based platform for the 2020s, to the Joint future MultiRole
(JMR) program and Future Lift Program (FLP).
Whether or not the new Army helicopter will be Sikorsky-based, it will be
a new platform, with at least higher tech in both the flying system and cockpit
systems, and more powerful engines.
For now,
however, the US Army, Air Force, and Navy have begun the Improved Turbine Engine
Program (ITEP), often called the UH-60M+, to re-engine many current Black Hawks
to engines with a power of 3000 shaft horsepower each.
The new engines are also to have lesser fuel consumption than one would
expect from an engine of their power,
A Black Hawk with the improved engines is not expected in prototype form
until 2018, with LRIP starting in 2021, and full production and service by 2027
by the latest. This may, of course,
run afoul of the JMR and FLP programs.
Electronic Warfare or “EH” Black Hawks
Some of the variants of
the UH-60A include the EH-60A Quick Fix (named for the code-name of its EW
suite), and the EH-60L Advanced Quick Fix, based on the UH-60L platform.
They can be immediately spotted by the ladder-type antennas extending
from the sides of the aircraft, and the swing-down dipole antenna, which is some
22 meters long when extended. These carried the Quick Fix IIB EW suite, which
was designed to locate, monitor, and jam enemy communications.
Though details on the Quick Fix suites are still classified, estimates
include jamming of HF, VHF, and UHF radios, with a successful Difficult:
Electronics or Difficult: Intelligence roll on the part of the EW specialists
(either one) making radio enemy communications impossible for five minutes.
Outstanding success means that communications are impossible for 10
minutes. Each roll jams 100 radios
per roll, and as many rolls per minute may be made as desired as long as they
are within jamming range (30 kilometers). Before jamming may be attempted, the
radios to be affected must be found; this also is rolled for 100 radios at a
time, and takes a separate Difficult: Electronics or Intelligence roll.
The EH-60 may also intercept enemy radio communications; this also uses a
Difficult roll, but the computers on the Quick Fix do this by scanning
communications and reporting intercepts to the EW specialists.
The Quick Fix may also conduct intrusion operations on a single enemy
radio net at a time; this requires an Impossible roll (as well as some Language
skills). Meaconing may also be
attempted; this also takes an Impossible roll.
The Quick Fix may be linked with a friendly ground intelligence unit, and
automatically send it’s interception, intrusion, and meaconing findings to that
ground station. The ground station
may then attempt its own intrusion and meaconing attempt, relayed through the
Quick Fix. It can also relay
direction-finding and location capabilities; direction finding is an Average
task, while location is an Impossible task.
Two cameras are also carried by the EH-60A and L; these have a range of
30km, and one is a motion picture camera.
The EH-60As cameras are film, while the EH-60L’s cameras are digital.
Both have a capacity of 1048 photos and 3 minutes of motion pictures (and can be
stopped and started by one the EW Specialist); getting clear photos or motion
pictures is an Average: Electronics or Intelligence task. 66 EH-60As and seven
EH-60Ls were converted from UH-60As and UH-60Ls, but starting in 2005, the
EH-60As were taken out of service and converted back to their base airframes; it
is not known whether the EH-60Ls ever reached active service.
The YEH-60B
SOTAS was another EW version of the UH-60A; it was designed to detect moving
targets on the battlefield and downlink the information to Army ground stations
for target disposition. The SOTAS
(Stand-Off Target Acquisition System) had its main landing gear modified to
allow it to be pulled up and against the fuselage, allowing the large,
rectangular radar fairing to rotate under the fuselage.
The radar is all-weather and can detect, locate, track, and classify up
to 40 targets at one. It has a
range of 60 kilometers. At the same
time, the Air Force designed the Pave Mover, which was essentially the same
aircraft with some slight differences.
The DoD recognized that this was redundant and at the same time, the
Joint STARS (Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System) put the radar into a
smaller footprint. In 1982, the
YEH-60B and the original Pave Mover were cancelled, and replaced with the EH-60B
Pave Mover.
The EH-60C
Command Hawk is a special Airborne Command and Control System (A2C2S) variant of
the UH-60A, built for commanders at Brigade-level and above to monitor the
battlefield situation with a large overview.
It is based on the UH-60A. It was originally designated the UH-60C. The
electronics on the helicopter are designed to monitor multiple radio nets at
one, with computers and a skilled radio operator to glean the important
information for the commanders.
Other crewmembers include the commander, an intelligence officer, an Operations
Officer, and a fire support operator. Exact crewmembers will vary with the
situation. Each has a radio to allow him to communicate with their ground
counterparts. The platform allows the commanders to achieve enhanced results in
mission planning, mission execution, and mission support.
The helicopter is equipped with a BMS and a GPS system, tied into the
navigation system. It is equipped
with the same AFCS as the VH-60N (roughly). All radios are data-capable.
The EH-60C is also equipped with an Army Tactical Command and Control
System (ATCCS; sort of an enhanced BMS). The EH-60C can also obtain a feed from
other helicopters in the vicinity, including Apaches and drones. For civilian
relief functions, the EH-60C can obtain feed from TV broadcasts, radio
broadcasts, the Internet, relief agency communications, and if permitted,
military transmissions from the host country. The EH-60C can detect false radio
signals, or false GPS signals, and jam such communications within 30 kilometers
(normal range is 50 kilometers for other Prophet functions). It can do some
minor SIGINT, detecting and locating radio, radar (especially counterbattery
radar) and radios and jamming sources (though it cannot counterjam them). This
entire suite of equipment goes under the code name of AN/MLQ-40 Prophet.
Information-gathering capabilities have a range of 50km. Special Operations have
a version of this helicopter; this will be covered elsewhere.
The EH-60C was later upgraded to the UH-60L configuration, receiving the
designation of EUH-60L, along with a total glass cockpit and displays for the
command crew.
The “Presidential Hawk”
Despite its
designation, the VH-60N White Hawk is a heavily-modified variant of the UH-60A.
Originally known as the VH-60A, they were redesignated to avoid confusion with
the UH-60A. These helicopters are
flown only by the US Marines and are used to fly the President of the United
States and other VIPs important to the US on short-range flights where larger
helicopters would not be necessary or expedient.
Only nine of these variants exist.
They start out as standard UH-60As, but (and most of the modifications
are classified), have upgraded engines, a powerful communications suite, with a
communications officer’s position; EMP protection, biological/chemical warfare
protection, a small weather radar on a chin mount, exhaust shields to protect
against IR-guided missiles, a soundproofed, luxury cabin, and some minor ECM and
IRCM protection. Other
modifications include a position added in the crew cabin for a communications
specialist, the installation of the Seahawk’s Automatic Flight Control System
(AFCS). As one might guess, the
passenger cabin is luxurious and soundproofed, with a small TV, civilian radio,
MP3 player with hard drive, and things like a small refrigerator and suchlike.
The White Hawk has a sort of BMS installed, primarily to find the location of
friendly assets and units, as well as fuel sources and to plot possible threats,
and known locations of the civilian chain of command and cabinet secretaries. It
can use the radio to make phone calls, to landlines or cell phones. No armament,
or provision for it, is carried, however, it is not known whether it can mount
the ESSS system. (If it can, it is most likely to use the hardpoints to carry
fuel tanks and baggage pods.) It has also not been publicized whether the
VH-60Ns have been upgraded to the UH-60L (or M) standard, but most likely the
tail update, the glass cockpit, and the flight computers have been updated. The
helicopter carrying the president always carries the call sign of Marine One; if
carrying the Vice-President, it will carry the call sign of Marine Two.
If other VIPs are carried and the President or Vice-President are not
aboard, it receives a call sign based on its tail numbers.
These are the only Black Hawks flown by the US Marines, and they are
generally known as “Presidential Hawks.”
Dustoff Hawks
The UH-60Q
Dustoff Hawk is a Medevac variant of the UH-60A.
It was specially-designed internally for this role, including the ability
to carry six litter patients on swing-out litter stands as well as three sitting
patients. It carries a doctor or PA
or Nurse Practitioner, as well as a nurse (if a doctor is carried), or nurse or
nurse practitioner or med tech (if a PA is the primary caregiver); they are
normally trained in emergency medicine.
The UH-60Q carries an oxygen generation system (enough for all six litter
patients), an IV solution cooling and warming unit, cardiac monitoring systems
for the six litter patients, two defibrillators, a powered litter lift system,
outlets for electrical power, and NOD-compatible cabin lighting.
The UH-60Q has all the medicines and equipment necessary to take care of
nine patients, from bandages, splints, and burn dressings to morphine,
antibiotics (in several forms), and IVs.
A small refrigerator carries whole blood, platelets, and plasma, as well
as medicines that need to be refrigerated.
A small oven is used to heat blankets if necessary.
The cockpit has a FLIR system, primarily to locate landing sites and
groups of soldiers with casualties. It also has weather radar, SATCOM radios,
and a GPS. It normally carries the
ESSS with two large external fuel tanks (though the other two inner hardpoints
are still present; they are not normally occupied as they get in the way of
loading patients). The UH-60Q was later replaced by the HH-60L, with an airframe
and engines built to the UH-60L standard.
The US Air Force
got off to an inauspicious start in its Dustoff Black Hawks.
They at first wanted what was essentially a regular operations version of
a special operations Black Hawk, the MH-60D; this was flatly turned down by the
Defense Appropriations Committee, and both were killed in funding.
They then developed a sort of MH-60D minus, the HH-60E; this largely
lacked the night/adverse weather flying suite and had everything else, and it
too was killed quickly. The Air
Force then tried a new prototype, sort of a stripped down HH-60E, but this too
was not funded. Therefore, the
first USAF UH-60 Dustoff was the UH-60A Credible Hawk.
The Credible Hawk was the actual name of the helicopter, but was sort of
a sarcastic name supplied to the DAC, “it may not be what we wanted or needed,
but it’s good for now.” The
Credible Hawk has an extendible external refueling probe, a 443 liter additional
fuel tank in the cargo bay, with one stretcher case carried atop the tank (and
incidentally removing space for one other stretcher case).
They had HIRSS exhaust shields (a better version of the standard IR
Suppression), and room for door gunner positions on either side (something not
found on most dustoffs as a standard fit), as well as medical equipment like
oxygen gear, defibrillators, IV Infusion systems and many IV bags and
medications, as well as a small refrigerator for temperature-sensitive
medicines. The Credible Hawk can
carry up to five stretcher cases, or three stretchers and three sitting
patients. It is staffed with a
Doctor, PA, or Nurse Practitioner, and two medical techs. If the doors are shut
and locked, the Credible Hawk has the benefits of NBC Overpressure. Some 82
Credible Hawks are known to have converted from standard UH-60As, others may
have been converted on a temporary basis.
The HH-60W
60-Whiskey is an improved variant of the UH-60A Credible Hawk, and it is also
based on the HH-60M: it’s primary improvement is larger and relocated internal
fuel tanks, giving the 60-Whiskey more range and more internal cabin space.
This allows for the carriage of two more sitting medical cases, or an
additional medical specialist or other passenger.
It carries some additional medical equipment, and can operate one
stretcher case as a small surgical suite. It has small freezers to cool the
chill blankets, as well as a small refrigerator for temperature-sensitive
medicines. In addition, it has a
blanket warmer for hypothermia victims. It a rearranged interior able to carry
an amount of medical supplies that would make a hospital emergency room proud.
It has power slide out and lift stretcher tables of the, meaning that the crew
do not have to do so much manhandling of a stretcher case or back-breaking
lifting. The 60-Whiskey has the
instruments to do surgery aboard the aircraft (if the ride is smooth enough to
allow surgery; usually, only life-saving surgery is conducted aboard the
aircraft). Full patient monitoring can be placed on the patient, whether on
litters or sitting. The HH-60W has medical suction devices with an internal tank
for medical and hazardous waste, as well as bins for soiled bandages, gauze,
sponges, bit of uniform cut away, etc. In addition to normal vessels, the HH-60W
can also land aboard hospital ships.
It should be noted that no equipment is removed from the HH-60W despite
its changing internal configuration. The cabin light may generate high-intensity
lighting for surgical or treatment use or lower lighting which is also
NOD-compatible. The HH-60W can also take 4 sitting patients, or the litter
tables can be swung up against the front and back of the cabin and the HH-60W
can take up to 11 troops, plus the crew, or bulk cargo.
The 60-Whiskey also has increased maneuverability when compared to the
UH-60A and UH-60Q. 60-Whiskeys are new-built aircraft with corrosion-resistant
main structures, and, when delivered, will be zero-flight airframes. The
60-Whiskey has a new system called 3D LZ, able to allow the aircraft in degraded
flight conditions like sandstorms or adverse weather conditions; it is sort of
an enhanced FLIR system crossed with an advanced Image Intensification system.
It is also capable of carrying weapons on its ESSS, but rarely does so, carrying
fuel tanks instead. The HH-60W has the TopOwl helmet sensor system and the
Pathfinder electro-optical suite.
The TopOwl system also shows on the helmet visor the location of friendly
assets, combat information, and overlays of information from the Pathfinder
suite, the ISAR radar, and the video and photo links to headquarters. The
avionics have been miniaturized in some cases, and some new gadgets and avionics
have been added in. The lasers are
on a turret in the nose of the aircraft, as are a near-infrared sensor, a color
TV day/night camera. Sponsons are
fitted, carrying 700 liter of fuel apiece.
This sight interface can also slave the weapons to a laser designator and
laser rangefinder. Unlike earlier
Dustoff Hawks, the 60-Whiskey has room for window guns, including M-240s,
M-134s, or GAU-19/As; it is made for a more CSAR role. It has a long retractable
probe for aerial refueling. The HH-60W has a BMS system and is fully integrated
with Link 16 and BFT. The HH-60W
has more powerful T-700-GE-401D engines, developing 1940 shaft horsepower each.
Deliveries will begin in 2019.
These aircraft will replace aging HH-60Gs.
Unlike similar special ops CSAR helicopter variants of the Black Hawk,
the HH-60W will not replace special ops HH-60s. Some 112 HH-60Ws are on order as
of February 2017, though full-rate production is not expected to begin until
2023.
The AH-60 Battle Hawk
The Battle Hawk
was designed specifically for combat, ie, as a gunship.
It is a variant of the UH-60A. This replaces the crew with reloads for
its weapons, with the exception of two door gunners for side shots and for
pop-up targets. The Battle Hawk
carries the ESSS, and on it, generally a pair of 30mm M-230 Chainguns on the
outer hard points, and ammunition for the M-230s on the inside hardpoints.
A third hardpoint is attached to the end of each ESSS, where a pair of
10-round Hydra-70 launchers, four Hellfire missiles, or four Stinger missiles.
The main landing gear are extended in length; this prevents the Hellfire
missiles or rocket launchers on the wingtip hardpoints, when mounted, from
bumping the ground. The door gunner’s M-134s are able to be locked just slightly
less than forward to contribute to strafing and benefit from the sights of the
Battle Hawk.
This variant was
not proceeded with by the US; however, the technology was later resurrected for
the MH-60L DAP and certain Columbian and Australian aircraft.
Sikorsky has ungraded the Battle Hawk to the CH-60M standard; though
available as a kit or full build, there have been no takers as of yet.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel
Type |
Load |
Veh
Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
UH-60A Black Hawk |
$1,181,354 |
JP8 |
3.63 tons |
10.25 tons |
4+11 |
20 |
None |
Enclosed |
UH-60L Black Hawk |
$1,770,157 |
JP8 |
4.39 tons |
12.37 tons |
4+11 |
24 |
None |
Enclosed |
UH-60M Black Hawk |
$1,887,508 |
JP8 |
4.44 tons |
12.67 tons |
4+11 |
32 |
None |
Enclosed |
UH-60A+ Black Hawk |
$1,565,433 |
JP8 |
4.39 tons |
11.31 tons |
4+11 |
24 |
None |
Enclosed |
UH-60V Black Hawk |
$1,417,173 |
JP8 |
4.39 tons |
12.4 tons |
4+11 |
32 |
None |
Enclosed |
CH-60E Black Hawk |
$2,746,909 |
JP8 |
3.62 tons |
10.28 tons |
4+11 |
22 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(150 km) |
Enclosed |
UH-60M+ ITEP |
$1,902,408 |
JP8 |
5.55 tons |
14.33 tons |
4+11 |
32 |
None |
Enclosed |
EH-60A Quick Fix |
$35,185,809 |
JP8 |
2.3 tons |
15.56 tons |
6 |
35 |
Radar (30km) |
Enclosed |
EH-60L Advanced Quick
Fix |
$35,203,589 |
JP8 |
3.06 tons |
17.68 tons |
6 |
39 |
Radar (30km) |
Enclosed |
EH-60B Pave Mover |
$4,259,768 |
JP8 |
3.52 tons |
10.69 tons |
4 |
30 |
Radar (60km) |
Enclosed |
EH-60C Command Hawk |
$11,244,189 |
JP8 |
3.27 tons |
11.68 tons |
9 |
35 |
Radar (50km) |
Shielded (Doors
Closed) |
EUH-60L Command Hawk |
$11,127,644 |
JP8 |
2.96 tons |
13.95 tons |
9 |
39 |
Radar (50km) |
Shielded (Doors
Closed) |
VH-60N White Hawk |
$14,074,252 |
JP8 |
2.21 tons |
15.94 tons |
3+6 |
44 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(150km), Radar (40km) |
Shielded |
UH-60Q Dustoff Hawk |
$2,505,070 |
JP8 |
3.35 tons |
11.37 tons |
2+6 Stretcher Cases
and 3 Sitting Patients |
36 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(100km) |
Enclosed |
HH-60L Dustoff Hawk |
$7,837,577 |
JP8 |
4.05 tons |
13.36 tons |
2+6 Stretcher Cases
and 3 Sitting Patients |
40 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(100km) |
Enclosed |
UH-60A Credible Hawk |
$2,964,048 |
JP8 |
3.05 tons |
12.57 tons |
4+5 Stretcher cases
or 3 Stretchers and 3 Sitting Patients |
26 |
None |
Shielded (Doors
Closed) |
HH-60W 60-Whiskey |
$16,821,354 |
JP8 |
2.8 tons |
15.94 tons |
4+6 Stretcher Cases
and 3 Sitting Patients |
28 |
3rd Gen
FLIR,3rd Gen Image Intensification, Weather Radar (150km),
Radar (40km), TFR, Day/Night CCTV |
Shielded (Doors
Closed) |
AH-60A Battle Hawk |
$12,250,497 |
JP8 |
1.59 tons |
12.02 tons |
5+3 |
34 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, Radar (30km) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com
Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel
Cap |
Fuel
Cons |
Ceiling |
UH-60A Black Hawk |
448 |
210 |
43/40 |
2756 |
1436 |
5790 |
UH-60L Black Hawk |
467 |
215 |
45/40 |
2756 |
1659 |
5790 |
UH-60M Black Hawk |
542 |
249 |
52/35 |
3032 |
1880 |
7238 |
UH-60A+ Black Hawk |
489 |
225 |
47/40 |
2756 |
1659 |
5790 |
UH-60V Black Hawk |
496 |
230 |
48/40 |
2756 |
1772 |
5790 |
CH-60E Black Hawk |
448 |
210 |
43/40 |
2756 |
1436 |
5790 |
UH-60M+ ITEP |
677 |
315 |
54/35 |
3800 |
2678 |
7000 |
EH-60A Quick Fix |
365 |
170 |
35/40 |
2756 |
1448 |
5790 |
EH-60L Advanced Quick
Fix |
380 |
175 |
37/40 |
2756 |
1673 |
5790 |
EH-60B Pave Mover |
441 |
205 |
42/40 |
2756 |
1442 |
5790 |
EH-60C Command Hawk |
424 |
195 |
41/40 |
2756 |
1448 |
5790 |
EUH-60L Command Hawk |
439 |
202 |
43/40 |
2756 |
1673 |
5790 |
VH-60N White Hawk |
355 |
165 |
32/40 |
3097 |
1448 |
5790 |
UH-60Q Dustoff Hawk |
430 |
200 |
41/40 |
2756 |
1448 |
5790 |
UH-60A Credible Hawk |
397 |
185 |
38/40 |
3197 |
1404 |
5790 |
HH-60W 60-Whiskey |
421 |
196 |
40/35 |
4432 |
1641 |
7238 |
AH-60A Battle Hawk |
395 |
185 |
38/40 |
2756 |
1359 |
5790 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
|
UH-60A Black Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
|
UH-60L Black
|
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS, IRCM |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
|
UH-60M Black
|
IFF, Secure Radios,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS/INS, ECM, IRCM, BMS |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4100x7.62mm or
2460x.50 |
|
UH-60A+ Black Hawk |
IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (30/30), IFF, RWR, GPS, Secure Radios |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
|
UH-60V Black Hawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS/INS, Secure Radios |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
|
CH-60E Black Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS/INS |
40m |
+1 (w/ESSS Weapons
Only) |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
|
UH-60M+ ITEP |
Secure Radios,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS/INS, ECM, IRCM, BMS |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
|
EH-60A/EH-60L Quick
Fix |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS, IRCM, ECM, Secure Radios, Radio Jammers
(30km), Radio Intrusion Gear (30km), ECM |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60, or M-134
Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
2000x7.62mm |
|
EH-60B Pave Mover |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS, IRCM, ECM, RLF |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
|
EH-60C Command Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS, ECM, ECCM, BMS, Secure Radios, RLF, Radar
LF |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60, or M-134
Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm |
|
EUH-60L Command Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS/INS, ECM, ECCM, BMS, Secure Radios, RLF, IR
Suppression, IRCM, Radar LF |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60, or M-134
Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm |
|
VH-60N White Hawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (60/60/30), RWR, GPS/INS, ECM, ECCM, IRCM, Secure
Radios, Satcom Radio, Radio Jammer (15 km) |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
|
UH-60Q Dustoff Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, Refueling
Probe |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
|
UH-60A Credible Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS, IR Suppression. Secure Radios, Refueling
Probe |
40m |
None |
2xMAG or M-60
Doorguns, 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
2000x7.62mm |
|
HH-60W 60-Whiskey |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (60/60/10), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (30km), ECCM
(30km), IRCM (30), BMS, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, Refueling Probe,
HUD, Helmet/Sight Interface, HIRSS IR Suppression |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Window Guns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
|
AH-60A Battle Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, GPS, ECM, ECCM, IRCM, BMS, Secure Radios,
Laser Designator |
40m |
+3 (Except Side Guns
when Manned) |
GAU-19/A, or M-134
Doorguns; 2 Hardpoints (w/ESSS), 2xM-230 Chaingun |
7500x7.62mm or
4500x.50, 1900x30mm |
|
Foreign Black Hawks
Notes: About a
score of countries have adopted the Black Hawk in a military role.
Most of these differ little from their parent aircraft, other than
language on controls and avionics and suchlike.
Civilian S-70s may be built at Sikorsky’s plant in the US or it’s
subordinate plant in Poland.
The British
actually went into the testing phase with three Black Hawks; these has
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM-322 engines developing 2270 shaft horsepower each, and
were designated WS-70 Black Hawk.
Their more powerful engines gave them fantastic performance (though also
fantastically-high fuel consumption) than the UH-60As upon which they were
based, though eventually the British Army decided to go with Eurocopter-produced
helicopters (and they wanted a chopper that could carry units like their
antitank, SAM, forward observation, and intelligence/reconnaissance teams, which
carry a lot of out-sized equipment), and the WS-70s were returned to the US and
converted back to UH-60As, and then one was sold to Bahrain. Only one WS-70 was
actually used for tests and it had to be refurbished before it was sold to
Bahrain, though it kept the British engines.
Bahrain did not use their new Black Hawk as a military aircraft; they
used it in a manner similar to the US’s VH-60N, and outfitted in a similar
manner. The Bahraini Black Hawk has
been upgraded, and is now using the UH-60L standard. Their Black Hawk was
designated the S-70A-14 Black Hawk and the upgraded one the S-70L-14. The VIP
models kept their Westland engines, but used US-made cockpits and avionics, with
a Middle Eastern luxury suite and labels on the cockpit and in the cabin.
The S-70L-14 also kept its Westland engines
The Egyptians
are some of the largest foreign users of the Black Hawk, with a fleet of 70
UH-60As. They are designated
S-70A-21s. Hong Kong also uses two, designated S-70A-27. Jordan operates the
UH-60A as their primary medium-lift helicopter; it is designated the S-70A-11.
Mexico has two, designated S-70A-24.
Morocco has two, designated S-70A-26.
Philippines have two, designated S-70A-5. Thailand has four; two are
utility transports, UH-60As designated S-70A-6; they also have two S-70A-20 VIP
Transports, in many ways similar to the VH-60N, but without much of the
avionics. Turkey has 12 UH-60As,
designated S-70A-17 Yarasa, used by police SRT units.
The Turkish government also use two VIP models, again similar to the
VH-60N except for the avionics. In
2011, Turkey selected the UH-60L in its Turkish Utility Helicopter Program, and
they intend to have a force of 121 UH-60Ls. The Argentines have one VH-60N as
their presidential transport, identical to the US VH-60N for game purposes,
though specific outfitting will be with Argentine luxuries instead of US-type.
The Greeks have an amount of Black Hawks, which are designated UH-60A
Aegean Hawk. Brazil and Poland both build the UH-60A under license; however,
Poland does not actually use the UH-60A, instead re-selling them to countries
where sales of the UH-60A may be a little more politically sensitive for the US.
In 2015, Tunisia bought 12 UH-60Ms.
The UH-60L is
used by South Korea. These were
license-built in the ROK by Korean Air, and have some additional avionics and
ECM. Their variant is called the
UH-60P, and they are the largest foreign user, with some 150 built and used by
the ROK Army and Marines. The
HH-60H is used by the ROK Navy, and is designated the HH-60P; it is identical to
the HH-60H for game purposes.
The S-70C series
is not actually a different helicopter (it is a UH-60A), but the designation was
used when selling Black Hawks to countries where the sale to them may be
politically sensitive. Brunei has
one S-70C, fitted out as a VIP transport; it is the same as the VH-60N for game
purposes, except for luxury items and labeling.
The PRC has 24 S-70C-2, where they are the most powerful rotorcraft in
the Chinese inventory for their size.
They are modified for high/hot operations. Obtaining spares have been
difficult since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, and they appear to be
locally making spares. Taiwan has 14 S-70Cs; these are for SAR duties and have a
250kg rescue hoist with 60 meters of cable, food items like PowerBars and soup,
some drinks (mostly chilled or hot water), and an oven for six heated blankets.
SARBirds are designated Blue Hawks, while military versions are stock and
designated Thunder Hawk.
The UH-60J is
the version for the Japanese JASDF.
It is based on the UH-60A, but has T700-IHI-701A engines developing 1720 shaft
horsepower each. Most of these are
equivalent to UH-60Qs. The JASDF ordered 30 for the Ground Forces; another 20
were ordered by the Maritime Forces and will be covered under Foreign Naval
Variants. In 1995, the JGSDF
ordered a version of the UH-60L, with domestically-produced T700-IHI-701C
engines developing 1800 shaft horsepower, and designated the UH-60JA.
The UH-60JA has upgraded avionics compared to its US counterparts, with a
FLIR camera, color weather radar, GPS with an INS backup, and a NOD-compatible
cockpit and cabin lighting.
Japanese UH-60s and their variants are produced by Mitsubishi.
Australia was
given a single UH-60L by Sikorsky for evaluation, leading to license-production
of 38 more by Hawker/de Havilland domestically.
They were originally assigned to the RAAF, but were later shifted to the
Australian Army. They are for the
most part UH-60Ls with advanced IR Suppression (HIRSS), cable-cutting blades,
the Seahawk’s AFCS, a folding stabilator, an external rescue hoist with a
capacity of 400 kilograms and 60 meters of cable, and some Australian-designed
avionics in place of American designed components.
They are designated CH-60L. The Australian Army are in the process of
buying AH-60L Battle Hawks; however, Australian versions will have a
chin-mounted 20mm Gatling gun turret, along with the FLIR, laser designator,
targeting computer, and laser rangefinder; the wingtip hardpoints are omitted.
They have a laser rangefinder, laser designator, laser warning receiver,
and are able to fire rockets that use the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System.
They are sort of like the Australian’s “Hind”, able to carry an 8-man infantry
squad or extra ammunition. They are
used for armed reconnaissance.
Israel received,
free of charge, ten US Army surplus UH-60As in 1994. The IAF later bought 24
new-build UH-60Ls. These are
identical to their parent designs, except for some Israeli-designed electronics,
additional ECM, ECCM and IRCM, larger flare and chaff dispensers, and some
Israeli-designed avionics in place of their US-designed counterparts, made by
Elbit. Cockpit labels are in
English and Hebrew. The Israelis
are in the process of buying ten AH-60L Battle Hawks, similar to the AH-60A but
based on the UH-60L, with appointments similar to the Australian AH-60L, and
with a single-barreled 20mm cannon instead of a Gatling gun. It has a rotor
blade/tail rotor system similar to the US UH-60M.
The Israeli AH-60Ls normally carry .50-caliber machineguns on their
wingtip hardpoints. The M3M system
is unitary. In a pod, and does not need a separate hardpoint to carry the
ammunition.
Saudi Arabia has
21 UH-60As for utility transport, which they call S-70A-1 Desert Hawks.
They have sand shields on their intakes, but are otherwise stock. Eight
more are Medevac versions identical to the UH-60Q Dustoff Hawk, and one is
decked out as a VIP transport, and similar to the VH-60N.
The Saudis intend to have a total UH-60 force of 72, a mix of UH-60As,
UH-60Ls, and UH-60Ms, and several of their subtypes.
Columbia also
operates the UH-60L, which they call the Arpia.
These have additional electronics and avionics.
They also operate a version of the AH-60L Battle Hawk, which they call
the Arpia III; these carry M-3M machineguns on their third (wingtip) hardpoint,
with ammunition feed from a canister on the second hardpoint.
The UAE also operates three of this AH-60L version, in addition to 12
UH-60Ls and 40 UH-60Ms. The AH-60Ls
are outfitted similarly to the Israeli Battle Hawks. In addition to normal
avionics, their UH-60s have a laser warning receiver (LWR) and some night
vision. They also call their UH-60s
Desert Hawks. UAE have modified engines which allow for hot/high operations, a
by-product of the UH-60M engines.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel
Type |
Load |
Veh
Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
WS-70 Black Hawk |
$1,110,895 |
JP8 |
3.63 tons |
10.26 tons |
4+11 |
20 |
None |
Enclosed |
S-70A-14 Black Hawk |
$14,118,448 |
JP8 |
2.2 tons |
15.9 tons |
3+6 |
44 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(150km), Radar (40km) |
Shielded |
S-70L-14 Black Hawk |
$19,000,328 |
JP8 |
2.08 tons |
16.38 tons |
3+6 |
46 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(150km), Radar (40km) |
Shielded |
S-70A-20 Black Hawk |
$7,578,710 |
JP8 |
2.54 tons |
14.53 tons |
3+6 |
41 |
2nd Gen
Image Intensification, Weather Radar (100km), Radar (30km) |
Shielded |
S-70A-18 Black Hawk |
$8,418,968 |
JP8 |
2.37 tons |
15.2 tons |
3+6 |
46 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(100km), Radar (40km) |
Shielded |
UH-60P Black Hawk |
$6,111,881 |
JP8 |
4.04 tons |
13.76 tons |
4+11 |
29 |
2nd Gen
Image Intensification, Thermal Imaging, Weather Radar (100km) |
Enclosed |
S-70C-2 Black Hawk |
$1,299,490 |
JP8 |
3.63 tons |
10.25 tons |
4+11 |
20 |
None |
Enclosed |
S-70C-1 Black Hawk |
$1,169,691 |
JP8 |
3.61 tons |
10.34 tons |
4+11 or Six Stretcher
Patients and Two Sitting Patients |
22 |
None |
Enclosed |
UH-60J Black Hawk |
$2,505,070 |
JP8 |
3.35 tons |
11.37 tons |
2+6 Stretcher Cases
and 3 Sitting Patients |
36 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(100km) |
Enclosed |
UH-60JA Black Hawk |
$9,337,884 |
JP8 |
4.01 tons |
13.89 tons |
4+11 |
24 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(150km) |
Enclosed |
CH-60L Black Hawk |
$11,441,309 |
JP8 |
3.96 tons |
13.07 tons |
4+11 |
27 |
None |
Enclosed |
AH-60L Battle Hawk |
$17,547,550 |
JP8 |
1.65 tons |
15.08 tons |
5+7 |
38 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, MMW Radar (30km) |
Enclosed |
UH-60L (IAF) Black
Hawk |
$11,513,343 |
JP8 |
4.05 tons |
13.72 tons |
4+11 |
24 |
None |
Enclosed |
AH-60L Battle Hawk
(IAF) |
$17,736,363 |
JP8 |
1.24 tons |
14.25 tons |
5+6 |
35 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, MMW Radar (40km) |
Enclosed |
UH-60L Arpia |
$1,881,714 |
JP8 |
4.37 tons |
12.45 tons |
4+11 |
26 |
FLIR |
Enclosed |
AH-60L Arpia III |
$11,526,048 |
JP8 |
2.02 tons |
13.59 tons |
5+6 |
37 |
FLIR, 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, MMW Radar (30km) |
Enclosed |
UH-60L Desert Hawk |
$5,992,247 |
JP8 |
4.09 tons |
13.59 tons |
4+11 |
26 |
2nd Gen
Image Intensification |
Enclosed |
UH-60M Desert Hawk |
$3,442,823 |
JP8 |
4.09 tons |
13.61 tons |
4+11 |
27 |
2nd Gen
Image Intensification |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com
Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel
Cap |
Fuel
Cons |
Ceiling |
WS-70 Black Hawk |
616 |
285 |
59/40 |
2756 |
2018 |
6243 |
S-70A-14 Black Hawk |
421 |
197 |
41/40 |
3097 |
2299 |
5790 |
S-70L-14 Black Hawk |
413 |
193 |
39/40 |
3097 |
2320 |
5790 |
S-70A-20 Black Hawk |
446 |
208 |
42/40 |
3097 |
2157 |
5790 |
S-70A-18 Black Hawk |
433 |
214 |
43/40 |
3097 |
2215 |
5790 |
UH-60P Black Hawk |
434 |
201 |
42/40 |
2756 |
1762 |
5760 |
S-70C-2 Black Hawk |
448 |
210 |
43/40 |
2756 |
1508 |
7200 |
S-70C-1 Black Hawk |
446 |
209 |
43/40 |
2756 |
1514 |
5790 |
UH-60J Black Hawk |
458 |
213 |
44/40 |
2756 |
1495 |
5790 |
UH-60JA Black Hawk |
440 |
203 |
42/40 |
2756 |
1770 |
5790 |
CH-60L Black Hawk |
437 |
206 |
43/35 |
2756 |
1685 |
6017 |
AH-60L Battle Hawk |
372 |
174 |
36/35 |
2756 |
1454 |
5790 |
UH-60L (IAF) Black
Hawk |
445 |
205 |
43/40 |
2756 |
1741 |
5790 |
AH-60L Battle Hawk
(IAF) |
386 |
180 |
37/35 |
2756 |
1406 |
5790 |
UH-60L Arpia |
465 |
214 |
45/40 |
2756 |
1666 |
5790 |
AH-60L Arpia III |
394 |
184 |
38/40 |
2756 |
1540 |
5790 |
UH-60L Desert Hawk |
447 |
205 |
43/40 |
2756 |
1737 |
5790 |
UH-60M Desert Hawk |
541 |
249 |
52/35 |
3032 |
1992 |
7238 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
WS-70 Black Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS |
40m |
None |
2xL-7A2 or M-134
Doorguns, 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm |
S-70A-14 Black Hawk |
IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (60/60/30), RWR, GPS/INS, ECM, ECCM, IRCM, Secure
Radios, Radio Jammer (15 km) |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70L-14 Black Hawk |
Advanced IR
Suppression, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (60/60/30), RWR, GPS/INS, ECM, ECCM,
IRCM, SATCOM Radio, Secure Radios, Radio Jammer (15 km) |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70A-20 Black Hawk |
IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/30), RWR, INS, ECM, Secure Radios |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70A-18 Black Hawk |
IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS, ECM, IRCM, SATCOM Radio,
Secure Radios, Radio Jammer (15 km) |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
UH-60P Black Hawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS, IRCM, ECM, ECCM, LWR, RL,
Secure Radios |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
S-70C-2 Black Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS |
40m |
None |
2xType 80 or Type 89
Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x12.7mm |
S-70C-2 Black Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS, Rescue Hoist (250kg/60m) |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
UH-60J Black Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/30), RWR, GPS, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, Refueling
Probe |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
UH-60JA Black Hawk |
IFF, Advanced IR
Suppression, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS, IRCM, ECM, Secure
Radios |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
CH-60L Black Hawk |
IFF, Advanced IR
Suppression, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (50/50), RWR, GPS/INS, IRCM, ECM,
Secure Radios, SATCOM Radios, Rescue Hoist (400 kg/60m), AFCS |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x.50 |
AH-60L Battle Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60), RWR, GPS, ECM, ECCM, IRCM, BMS, LWR, Secure Radios,
Laser Designator, Advanced IR Suppression, APKWS, AFCS, Helmet-Sight
Interface, Cable Cutters |
40m |
+3 (Except Side Guns
when Manned) |
GAU-19/A, or M-134
Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS), 20mm M-193 Gatling Gun |
7500x7.62mm or
4500x.50, 2800x20mm |
UH-60L (IAF) Black
Hawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (50/50/15), RWR, GPS, IRCM, ECM, ECCM, Secure
Radios |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, Negev,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
5500x5.56mm, or 2400x.50 |
AH-60L Battle Hawk
(IAF) |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60), RWR, GPS, ECM, ECCM, IRCM, BMS, LWR, Secure Radios,
Laser Designator, Advanced IR Suppression, APKWS, AFCS, Helmet-Sight
Interface, Cable Cutters |
40m |
+3 (Except Side Guns
when Manned) |
2xMAG, Negev,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 3 Hardpoints, M3M (x2), 20mm M-693
Autocannon |
7500x7.62mm or
10000x5.56mm, 15000x.50, 3000x20mm |
UH-60L Arpia |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS, IRCM, ECM, LWR |
40m |
None |
M-60 or M-134
Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm |
AH-60L Arpia III |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60), RWR, GPS, ECM, IRCM, LWR, Secure Radios, Laser
Designator, IR Suppression, AFCS, Helmet-Sight Interface |
40m |
+3 (Except Side Guns
when Manned) |
GAU-19/A, or M-134
Doorguns; 2 Hardpoints (w/ESSS), 2xM-3M Machineguns |
7500x7.62mm or
4500x.50, 7500x.50 |
UH-60L Desert Hawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS, IRCM, LWR, Sand Shields |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x12.7mm |
UH-60M Desert Hawk |
IFF, Secure Radios,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), RWR, GPS/INS, ECM, IRCM, LWR, Sand
Shields, Refueling Probe |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns; 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
4000x7.62mm or
2400x12.7mm |
Civilian Black Hawks
Notes: Civilian
Black Hawks are present in more numbers than military Black Hawks, but not as
much as you think; the Black Hawks supplied to civilian agencies are minimally
modified for their role and as they are designed as military helicopters, are
more expensive IRL than their civilian helicopter counterparts, though more
robust and generally with better avionics.
Civilian Black Hawks are generally not designated as Black Hawks except
on an informal basis, and are designated S-70 instead of UH-60.
Most civilian S-70s are used for Medevac due to their high speed and
ample cargo cabin, and are generally outfitted as per the UH-60Q, HH-60L, or
HH-60M (without refueling probes and without door guns).
Most fly with side doors closed.
They retain armored seats, armored rotors, and general aircraft armor,
something police aviators using Black Hawks appreciate.
They usually mount a searchlight in the nose, and are often mounted with
2nd Gen FLIR. They do
not usually have secure or SATCOM radios.
They generally have more powerful 1890-shaft horsepower engines than
those on military Black Hawks, and are sometimes used as straight cargo birds.
Other common uses are firefighting water-dropping vehicles and helicopters to
drop fire jumpers. (Firefighting and their support S-70s are often called Fire
Hawks.)
Some are
outfitted as VIP transports, with somewhat less avionics than the VH-60N.
Other outfits include Movie/TV production, charter VIP aircraft, and
aerial lift of cumbersome cargoes. (Examples are necessarily general.)
Fire Hawks who
are water bombers can carry a 3407-liter Bambi Bucket, 3208-liter bucket,
2498-liter bucket, or 2044-liter bucket, or unitary water bins, which can be
reloaded by a dip/vacuum system or from the ground.
(The unitary water bins have the advantage of being capable of more
precise water bombing, the ability to drop water in more than one place until
the bin is empty, and can carry fire retardant whereas buckets cannot, but are
more complicated to fill up). The Fire Hawks can be loaded with water or fire
retardant, though the use of fire retardant will require one or more flushes
with water before water may be used again.
Fire Hawks using buckets generally come with those buckets separately;
those with unitary water/retardant bins have them built onto the underside of
the aircraft, and have extended landing gear. (Water is 1 kilogram per liter;
fire retardant is about 1.1 kilograms per liter.) The bins can be filled at the
airfield or forward facility, or they may pick up water by dropping a vacuum
hose into a lake or pond. (Some firefighting helicopters have even refilled
through swimming pools!) The figures below are with empty bins; speed and
agility will decrease accordingly as water or retardant is loaded. Fire Hawks
which drop Smoke Jumpers are specially set up for this role, but can also drop
water through the use of a bucket. Fire Hawks are designated SK-70s. They are
generally painted bright red, or largely bright red.
Aerial TV/Movie
platforms have the virtue of giving the companies a low-vibration platform, and
can mount cameras in a chin turret or from the doors.
Several cameras of different sizes, speeds, or light sensitivity (or
night vision) can be carried, shooting out the door; even large I-MAX camera
setups can be accommodated. Movies include
Universal Soldier, The Manchurian
Candidate, Wolverine, Act of Valor, Pirates of the Caribbean, and
Salt.
TV credits are too numerous to be mentioned here.
Some Police departments use the
S-70; kit-outs include FLIR, 2nd Generation FLIR, 2nd Gen
Image Intensification, Radar, and the lifting of aerial snipers, shooters and
spotters. (They are not often used by police forces, however, due to their size
and expense.) Those departments who
use them generally call them Blue Hawks. They also have loudspeaker systems.
They do not normally carry doorguns or doorgunners; the extra crewmen
normally operate the cameras, searchlight, and night vision or other listening
devices. “High-Tech” versions (for lack of another term) are police versions
with extra avionics and equipment, normally used for reconnaissance and for
chasing down dangerous suspects and vehicles.
They retain many of the features of military Black Hawks.
Many
designations in this section are provisional, used to help differentiate the
helicopters, and are not real designations.
Most civilian Black Hawks are based on the UH-60A airframe and for some
of the components; however, they generally have updated electrical systems,
hydraulics, running gear, and the aforementioned higher-power turboshafts.
They may also have modifications like chin turrets, belly turrets,
bulges, domes, the tail modification of the UH-60L, the glass cockpit of a
UH-60M, etc.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel
Type |
Load |
Veh
Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
S-70AQ Dustoff Hawk |
$1,702,278 |
JP8 |
3.74 tons |
10.63 tons |
2+6 Stretcher Cases
and 3 Sitting Patients |
33 |
FLIR, WL Searchlight |
Enclosed |
S-70P Blue Hawk |
$2,577,543 |
JP8 |
3.75 tons |
10.55 tons |
4+11 |
28 |
FLIR, 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, WL/IR Searchlight |
Enclosed |
S-70P Blue Hawk
(High-Tech) |
$7,710,054 |
JP8 |
3.57 tons |
11.27 tons |
4+11 |
32 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, WL/IR Searchlight, MMW
Radar (5 km) |
Enclosed |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(3407-liter bin) |
$933,044 |
JP8 |
3.73 tons |
10.65 tons |
3 |
19 |
FLIR, WL/IR
Searchlight |
Enclosed |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(3208-liter bin) |
$933,039 |
JP8 |
3.73 tons |
10.63 tons |
3 |
19 |
FLIR, WL/IR
Searchlight |
Enclosed |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(2498-liter bin) |
$933,024 |
JP8 |
3.8 tons |
10.56 tons |
3 |
19 |
FLIR, WL/IR
Searchlight |
Enclosed |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(2044-liter bin) |
$933,014 |
JP8 |
3.83 tons |
10.51 tons |
3 |
19 |
FLIR, WL/IR
Searchlight |
Enclosed |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(Smoke Jumper) |
$1,014,609 |
JP8 |
3.67 tons |
10.41 tons |
2+6 |
19 |
FLIR, WL/IR
Searchlight, Radar (5 km) |
Enclosed |
S-70A Civilian VIP |
$8,874,750 |
JP8 |
2.59 tons |
14.44 tons |
2+ Up To 8 |
40 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(150km) |
Enclosed |
S-70A Aerial Movie/TV
Camera Mount |
$2,021,327 |
JP8 |
3.55 tons |
11.57 tons |
4 |
26 |
2nd Gen
Image Intensification, 2 Standard Motion Picture Cameras, 1 HD Camera, 1
High-Speed Camera, 2 Night Vision Cameras (400m and 4000m) |
Enclosed |
S-70 Civilian Base |
|
JP8 |
3.88 tons |
10.25 tons |
2+13 |
|
None |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com
Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel
Cap |
Fuel
Cons |
Ceiling |
S-70AQ Dustoff |
514 |
240 |
49/40 |
2756 |
1626 |
5790 |
S-70P Blue Hawk |
502 |
235 |
48/40 |
2756 |
1665 |
5790 |
S-70P Blue Hawk
(High-Tech) |
492 |
231 |
47/35 |
2756 |
1699 |
5790 |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(3407-liter bin) |
500 |
230 |
48/40 |
2756 |
1642 |
5790 |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(3208-liter bin) |
501 |
230 |
48/40 |
2756 |
1658 |
5790 |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(2498-liter bin) |
502 |
230 |
48/40 |
2756 |
1665 |
5790 |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(2044-liter bin) |
503 |
230 |
40/40 |
2756 |
1668 |
5790 |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(Smoke Jumper) |
514 |
238 |
49/40 |
2756 |
1626 |
5790 |
S-70A Civilian VIP |
447 |
208 |
40/40 |
3097 |
1636 |
5790 |
S-70A Aerial Movie/TV
Camera Mount |
490 |
229 |
47/35 |
2756 |
1668 |
5790 |
S-70 Civilian Base |
520 |
243 |
50/40 |
2756 |
1645 |
5790 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
S-70AQ Dustoff |
GPS, Transponder |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70P Blue Hawk |
IFF, GPS,
Transponder, LED Vision Dazzler, Loudspeaker |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70P Blue Hawk
(High-Tech) |
IFF, GPS,
Transponder, LED Vision Dazzler, IR Suppression, ECM, Flares (30),
Secure Radios, Loudspeaker |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
SK-70 Fire Hawk |
GPS, Transponder,
Water/Fire Retardant Unitary Bin, Secure Radios |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
SK-70 Fire Hawk
(Smoke Jumper) |
GPS, Transponder,
Secure Radios |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70A Civilian VIP |
IFF, IR Suppression,
RWR, GPS, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70A Aerial Movie/TV
Camera Mount |
GPS, Transponder, 75
Film Canisters, Laser Rangefinder |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
S-70 Civilian Base |
GPS, Transponder |
40m |
None |
4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
Naval SH-60 Seahawks
Notes: In 1977,
the US Navy had a problem. Their
LAMPS (Light Airborne Multipurpose System) had been developed into a Mark II
configuration, but the Navy’s ASW helicopter at the time, the Kaman Seasprite,
was not big enough or powerful enough to be equipped with the Mark II version of
LAMPS. Soon thereafter, the Mk II
was improved into a Mk III version (LAMPS III) by IBM Federal Systems, and the
Seaprite definitely could not handle it.
They Army had a big, powerful helicopter in the Black Hawk, so the Navy
decided to develop their own version, to be designated the SH-60B Seahawk.
They selected the SH-70B in 1977, with full production ordered in
February 1978; the first production SH-60B flew in February 1983, and
operational service began in 1984, with operational deployment beginning in
1985. The lines and specs of the
SH-60B are very similar to the Army’s UH-60A, and the two have 83% parts
commonality. Foreign users of the basic SH-60B include Spain, India, and
Singapore. Israel also uses the
SH-60B Block I helicopters.
A LAMPS
helicopter is meant to be a modular multipurpose helicopter, which means that it
is designed to perform a variety of roles; in this case, the Seahawk performs
roles ranging from cargo and personnel transport to antisubmarine warfare. The
primarily difference between the SH-60B and the Army’s UH-60A are its equipment
package and that most of the airframe of the SH-60B is treated to be
corrosion-resistant in the salty air environment.
SH-60B-specific equipment includes the RAST (Recovery Assist Secure and
Traverse) system, which allows the Seahawk to land on ships with only a small
landing platform by dropping a cable with a hook on a reel.
This allows the helicopter, once the cable is secured to the landing pad,
to reel itself onto surprisingly small pads, even in rough weather.
(Crews call this “harpoon” gear.) The main rotor folds so that it lies
down the center of the rear of the aircraft.
The stabilator and tailfin also fold, and the Seahawk’s stabilator is
rectangular instead of having a swept rear edge, and folds up on each side of
the tailfin. The entire tail can
also be unbolted and removed for air transport or sling loading. The Seahawk may
also be distinguished by the landing gear; the tail gear is moved to the rear of
the fuselage instead of being on the tail boom, and has two wheels instead of
one. The landing gear is also
taller than the standard Black Hawk, and does not have the heavy-duty shock
absorber system of the UH-60 series.
The crew seats
are unarmored to lighten the structure, and the cockpit doors and cabin doors
are jettisonable with explosive bolts, to assist crew escape in case of
ditching. When ditching, floats
deploy, which keep the Seahawk on the surface for up to 3 hours (depending on
the sea state and the violence of the ditching). The Seahawk not only has secure
radios, but has a secure datalink that is able to transmit video (if so
equipped) radio transcripts, and other data as generated by its instruments.
The datalink antenna is in a dome under the tail boom. The Seahawk has a
very efficient autopilot, allowing the aircraft even to hover while maintaining
altitude, attitude, and position automatically; this is the AFCS (Automatic
Flight Control System). The Seahawk is air conditioned, not for the benefit of
the crew, but for the avionics suite.
Fuel capacity is increased, and the Seahawk has a HIFS (Hover In-Flight
System) allows the Seahawk to hover above or alongside a ship and be refueled.
The SH-60 normally uses the ESSS winglets, and generally carries weapons on
them, though drop tanks or ECM/IRCM pods may also be carried.
The SH-70B has a 270-kilogram rescue hoist on the right side of the
cabin, with 60 meters of cable, though this is removable to save weight. (The
stats below reflect the SH-60B with the hoist installed.)
There is a sling load hook beneath the Seahawk, as on the Black Hawk.
Of course, the
primary feature of the SH-60B is the LAMPS III suite, which includes a powerful
radar in a chin drum mount; this radar is able to look 360 degrees around the
aircraft, and at normal search altitude (about 150 meters), has a range of 240
kilometers. In four boxes in the
chin and rear fuselage are the ESM (Electronic Support Measures), also known as
the ELS (Emitter Location System), which locates electronic and IR emissions
from ships and sometimes submarines. The Seahawk has a MAD (Magnetic Anomaly
Detector) system to assist in locating and identifying submarines and surface
ships. It may be extended on a
short boom or towed up to 25 meters behind the Seahawk, which is better for
detecting submarines and USVs. This
is in a tube on the right side of the fuselage. The Seahawk has sonobuoy tubes;
the SH-60B carries 125 sonobuoys (25 in each of five tubes), and these are
dropped from the rear of the fuselage in a pattern which may be automatic or
controlled by the crew. The Seahawk
carries both active and passive sonobuoys.
The SH-60B has a stub pylon on the side and to the rear of the cabin
doors to carry either two Mk 46 homing torpedoes or two 455-liter fuel tanks.
All this
equipment makes the SH-60B considerably heavier than the UH-60A.
To counter this, the SH-60B has more powerful T700-GE-401 engines, which
develop 1690 shaft horsepower each.
The transmission is also modified to handle the more powerful engines. The
engines and the transmission are also treated to be corrosion resistant in salt
air. Despite the more powerful
engines, the SH-60B is not as fast as the UH-60B and has less maneuverability,
due to the weight and drag caused by the radar and various bulges and clutter on
the aircraft.
Due to
operations in the Persian Gulf from 1987 and before, the Middle East Force
Modification (MEF-MOD), was done, leading to these SH-60Bs being referred to as
the “Mideast Seahawk.” It has
become the standard iteration of the SH-60B. Modifications include more powerful
T700-GE-401C engines with 1900 shaft horsepower each, and the appropriate
transmission, improving performance considerably. They were equipped with a
laser jammer similar to that of the Stingray Bradley (see US Tracked Armored
Personnel Carriers, generally referred to as a “disco light jammer”), flare and
chaff dispensers, a radar warning system to alert the crew of missile launches
and approaches, M-60D door guns, FLIR, and stabilized binoculars.
Some 25 were given these modifications.
Just before the
1991 Gulf War, the Block I modifications were underway, and most SH-60Bs were
upgraded to this standard. Once
again, no special designation was allotted to the newly-modified SH-60Bs.
The Block I SH-60B includes the MEF-MOD package, as well as the
installation of GPS, a more powerful flight computer, the replacement of the
M-60D door guns with GAU-19/As, and dual digital avionics buses.
One of the primary goals for the Block I was to allow the SH-60B to carry
and fire more modern ASW weapons, including the Mk 50 Barracuda torpedo, and the
AGM-199 Penguin antiship missile.
In addition to the standard flare and chaff dispensers, the Block I carries an
oversized chaff bundle (about the equivalent of ten normal chaff bundles) called
an AIRBAC that is ejected from a sonobuoy tube (removing the capacity to carry
25 of its sonobuoys). It is dropped
in the path of an incoming antiship missile to decoy the missile from its ship
target. The left ESSS was also
extended to include one more hardpoint.
(The right side ESSS could not be extended, since the stores would get in
the way of the rescue hoist.)
The SH-60F Ocean
Hawk (it is known to its crews as Ocean Hawk, though its official DoD name is
still Seahawk) was designed to replace the SH-3 Sea King ASW/SAR helicopter. It
may be thought of as a “stripped” version of the MEF-MOD (though not the Block
I) SH-60B, It is designed primarily for “Angel” service (rescuing those aviators
who have to ditch soon after takeoff or landing, also known as Plane Guards),
but may also be used for general SAR service and close-in antisubmarine and
antishipping duties. The Ocean Hawk
deletes the RAST gear, since it is not required to land on the pads of small
ships, and the LAMPS III suite is replaced with a less sophisticated and
comprehensive suite. It adds a
dipping sonar, but the sonobuoy launchers are removed, replaced by a single
sonobuoy launcher with 8 sonobuoys in a rack and the launcher loaded manually.
The left winglet is extended to include one more hardpoint, but as the
Ocean Hawk retains the SAR hoist, the right winglet is not extended, as on the
SH-60B Block I. The Ocean Hawk also
has a sling hook under the fuselage to allow it to transport cargo; this hook is
able to hoist up to the maximum cargo capacity of the SH-60F.
One more crewmember is added, an acoustic sensor operator (ASO). The
Ocean Hawk can carry fuel tanks or Mk 46, Mk 50, or Mk 54 torpedoes, but not
antiship missiles. The door guns are limited to M-60Ds, M-240Ds, or M-2HBs, on
each side of the cabin. The SH-60F has an extra fuel tank, located behind the
pilot and in front of the TSO’s (Tactical Systems Operator) position. The SH-60F
went into service just before the 1991 Gulf War. In addition to the US Navy, the
SH-60F is used by Israel, Spain, and the US Coast Guard.
In the US Navy, the SH-60F was replaced by the MH-60S Knight Hawk, in the
Coast Guard, they were replaced by a variant of the MH-60S.
The SH-60Fs were modified for naval VIP duties, unofficially designated
the SH-60I, and moved to the Coast Guard, in the early 2000s.
The HH-60H was
developed in conjunction with the Coast Guard’s HH-60J, and both are based on
the SH-60F. Though the official DoD
name for the HH-60H is the Seahawk, it is invariably called the Rescue Hawk by
crews and ground and shipboard personnel. Its primary mission is CSAR (Combat
Search And Rescue) of Marines and Naval Special Warfare teams, but it can also
can conduct antishipping warfare.
It is equipped with ECM, IRCM, and radar, as well as night vision, and has a
NOD-friendly cockpit. It uses a variant of the T700-GE-401C engines with 1940
shaft horsepower each. It can guide its weapons by laser and can carry such
missiles in addition to standard naval weapons, and on the extended side of the
ESSS, the HH-60H often carries a quartet of Hellfire missiles, and sometimes on
other hardpoints (though those hardpoints more often carry fuel tanks).
It is also capable of using 19-round rocket launchers, Stinger missiles,
Mavericks, or virtually the entire complement of US Navy torpedoes and missiles.
It carries the Aircraft Survival Equipment (ASE) package, including ECM, ECCM,
IRCM, Laser Warning and radar warning receivers, and flare and chaff dispensers.
It also carries door guns of various types.
In addition to the ESSS, it has one hardpoint on both sides for ordnance
or fuel tanks. It has a rescue hoist on the left side with a capacity 270
kilograms and 60 meters of cable, and room for two stretcher cases and four
seated medical patients, plus a doctor and nurse and ample medical supplies, on
a Medevac mission. On a standard
team or Marine recovery mission, the Rescue Hawk may carry its crew and eight
troops, though in extremis 10 troops
may be squeezed in. Troops may also be delivered or recovered using fast rope,
rappelling, STABO, SPIE and McGuire rigs, CRRC, parachute drops, and boat
deployment using a sling-loaded boat.
In “Angel” flights, at least one combat rescue swimmer (CRS) is almost
always carried. The HH-60H has a refueling probe and can be refueled in air.
Note that the HH-60H is not equipped for ASW; that is the job of the
SH-60F, and squadrons aboard most ships have three HH-60Hs and three SH-60Fs,
and in maritime warfare, they operate in concert.
Some 45 were built. The HH-60H was replaced by the MH-60S, starting in
2002; however, some HH-60Hs still remain in service with the US Navy.
The HH-60J
Jayhawk (though its official name is still Seahawk) is also based on the SH-60F
and is optimized for use as a SARbird.
It replaced the HH-3 Pelican, as with a full load of extra fuel tanks, it
can continue to search and remain on station for up to seven hours.
(The Jayhawk cannot, as the Pelican could, land on water.)
It has a state-of-the art electronics suite, to aid in finding victims as
well as smuggling boats and aircraft. It can also mount a compartment similar to
a firefighting water bin that carries oil-dispersal agents in the case of oil
spills. It carries a crew of four (two pilots, one rescue swimmer, and one
rescue swimmer/medic). It has a
rescue winch with a 270-kilogram capacity and 60 meters of cable, and has room
to rescue up to six people. The
Jayhawk carries two stretchers and room for four sitting patients. It carries IV
solutions of several types, a complement of medication, and a warmer for the IV
saline solution for hypothermia cases.
It has a blanket warmer for three blankets, and compartments for MREs and
special survival rations, as well as a 100-liter drinking water tank.
It has a defibrillator and plenty of bandages and materials for burn
treatment, as well as Dawn dishwashing soap for oil removal.
The cabin also has a large fuel tank in it at the rear, with lockers all
around it.; the Jayhawk also has an in-flight refueling probe. For antismuggling
duties, the Jayhawk has an M-240D on one side and a Barrett M-107 antimateriel
rifle mounted on the other for general warning shots and to shoot out engines
and hostiles. The mounted M-107A1 is essentially on a tripod, and has one-half
the recoil of an M-107A1 on a bipod. The first Jayhawk entered USCG service in
1990, and by 1996, production was complete; 42 were built.
The HH-60J began to be modified into the MH-60T configuration in 2009,
and upgrades to all 42 are expected were finished in 2015.
The MH-60R
(officially called the Seahawk, but more often referred to as the Romeo Hawk or
simply Romeo), has an “M” designation to reflect its multimission role.
It carries out jobs including Angel Flights, SARbird and CSAR,
antishipping and antisubmarine warfare, cargo and vertical replenishment,
transporting sling loads, and medivac, as well as general Naval fire support,
equipped with cannons and Hellfire missiles on its ESSS winglets and machineguns
on its sponsons. It can also be
used to destroy mines; the gunner has an M-107A1 for this purpose. And organic
guns may also be used. The Romeo Hawk is equipped with multimode radar,
including ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar), a dipping sonar which can
operate at low, medium, and high frequency, en electronic defensive suite, a
comprehensive night vision/thermal detection suite, sponsons which can carry
fuel tanks or a variety of weapons, including torpedoes, antishipping missiles,
Hellfire or Maverick missiles, or M-3M machineguns, Miniguns or GAU-19A pods.
The Romeo Hawk has a long-range laser rangefinder and designator for this
purpose; the Hellfires and Mavericks, as well as some of the naval weapons, can
also be guided by the MH-60R’s radar. The MH-60R carries SH-60B Block I-type
ESSS winglets, which can carry fuel tanks or the same sorts of weapons.
It carries sonobuoys and one AIRBAC chaff dispenser.
The MH-60R has an all-glass cockpit (except for certain secondary
instruments), and they are NOD-compatible.
Its radio set is comprehensive and all radios are data-capable, with one
able to transmit pictures generated by its ISAR.
It uses AFCS and HIFS to reduce workload on the pilots, and aircraft
weapons gunner, through automation and computer assistance of many functions,
including piloting the helicopter.
It has RAST gear. It does not normally carry door guns or door gunners.
The Romeo Hawk also has an ESM (Electronic Surveillance Measures) package
which can jam radar, radio, and IR weapons and radios communications.
The MH-60R will eventually replace the SH-60B and SH-60F in the US Navy,
and it also used by the Australian Navy.
Currently, it works in conjunction with SH-60Bs and SH-60Fs until more
MH-60Rs are available. First flight took place in 2001, with full-rate
production approved in 2006, and first deployment, aboard the
John C Stennis, in 2009.
It can operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious ships and
aircraft carriers as well as land bases.
The nose of the MH-60R has a distinctive appearance, with a dish on the
bottom and an extended FLIR/Image Intensification/Laser Module extending beyond
the nose on a gimbal.
The MH-60S is
officially still the Seahawk, but is more commonly known as the Knighthawk, as
it replaces the H-46D Sea Knight helicopter formerly used the ASW and
antisubmarine and antimine warfare.
Other roles for the MH-60S include CSAR, humanitarian relief, vertical cargo
carrying and replenishment, aeromedical evac, and special warfare missions.
In fact, in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has spent much more time ferrying
SEAL and MARSOC and their wounded than any other mission.
The Knighthawk was originally going to be designated the CH-60S, but this
was changed to MH-60S to reflect its multimission role. The Knighthawk began
full-rate production in August 2002, and by January 2011 some 154 Knighthawks
were deployed on the amphibious assault ships USS
Essex, USS
Wasp, and USS
San Antonio, as well as some carriers
and occasionally lighter vessels with flight decks. Deployment of the MH-60S
began in 2003, and by September 2004, all of its predecessors, the H-46D Sea
Knights, had been replaced. The MH-60S also replaced the HH-60H. Though the
primary mission is regarded to be a naval warfare helicopter on the books, it is
kitted out more for special missions than Naval operations, and it is equipped
less than the MH-60R for Naval warfare operations.
The UH-60M is its ancestor as well as the SH-60B Block 1 and SH-60F, and
the Knighthawk sports a glass cockpit (in fact, the same as on the MH-60R),
advanced flight controls, RAST gear, and generally carries fuel tanks on its
ESSS winglets and its sponsons.
(However, the right extended winglet usually carries a quartet of Hellfire
missiles, and the sponsons often carry rocket pods.)
The Knighthawk carries an Improved Multispectral Targeting System
(MTS-A). The targeting system
includes an electronic zoom, a laser rangefinder/designator/illuminator, as well
as an autotracker. It has a GPS
system which takes shots off of 12 GPS satellites for extreme precision. The
Knighthawk is equipped with swing-down NODs and stabilized binoculars, but these
are often ignored, with the crews using helmet mounted NODs instead.
For a troop transport situation, the MH-60S can carry up to 12 troops in
its cabin, as well as two door gunners; alternatively, up to six stretchers and
four seated patients, along with a doctor, nurse or PA, and medic and a plethora
of medical gear. (The MH-60S is,
essentially, modular in its loadout.)
For antimine warfare, the Knighthawk carries a BRU-14 rack that carries
14 113-kilogram bombs on one of the hardpoints of the winglets.
Detection is by an ALMDS detector, which gets a general identification
and shoots a pulsed laser to get a general outline to be sure. Finally, the
Knighthawk is capable of Paving. The nose of the MH-60S has a distinctive
appearance, with a dish on the bottom and an extended FLIR/Image
Intensification/Laser Module extending beyond the nose on a gimbal.
Foreign users of
the MH-60S include Australia and Thailand.
The MH-60T
Jayhawk is the US Coast Guard’s multirole helicopter and is essentially a
heavily modified and upgraded HH-60J.
Three retired SH-60Fs were also remanufactured into MH-60Ts.
At first, the MH-60T was designated the HH-60T, but this was changed to
reflect the multimission role. A total of 42 are in service with the US Coast
Guard currently. The first MH-60Ts
entered service in 2007, with modifications ending in 2014, and
deployment in 2015. At this
point, the HH-60J and SH-60F were retired from active duty, though some were
retained for training duties. The MH-60T normally operates from land bases, but
is also capable of operating from the deck of 82-meter Medium Endurance Cutters
or 115-meter High Endurance Cutters. It can also interoperate with US Navy ships
with appropriate facilities, and has RAST gear. The Jayhawk was rebuilt into a
helicopter which could perform the SARbird role, cargo role, training role,
anti-smuggling tasks, and some ASW functions.
One of the first modifications was to give it the glass cockpit of the
MH-60R and MH-60S, and it is identical to the cockpits of those helicopters
except for some specialized functions. The
electro-optical/night vision suite was updated, and the formerly absent armored
seats were refitted into the MH-60T.
Like the HH-60J, the MH-60T has a precision antimateriel rifle on a mount
for shots through the engines of boats or to puts holes in hull of a boat; this
is normally mounted on the right side, and a machinegun on the left.
The nose of the MH-60T has a distinctive appearance, with a dish on the
bottom and an extended FLIR/Image Intensification/Laser Module extending beyond
the nose on a gimbal. The MH-60T has flare and chaff dispensers as well as an
IRCM emitter. It is capable of
using any torpedo in the US Navy inventory as well as Hellfire missiles and
19-round 2.75-inch rocket pods, or extra fuel tanks, or cannon or machineguns,
on its ESSS winglets. These can
also be mounted on the side sponsons; if carrying fuel tanks, the left sponson
may carry two 454-liter tanks and the right sponson one.
On the right side is also mounted the rescue winch, with a basket on the
end and capable of lifting 270 kilograms with 61 meters of cable. The MH-60T has
the equivalent of a BMS, but oriented most of the time towards its SARbird or
anti-smuggling roles. It can,
however, interoperate with US Navy ships and aircraft when required.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel
Type |
Load |
Veh
Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
SH-60B Seahawk
(Early) |
$15,752,405 |
JP8 |
2.99 tons |
13.25 tons |
5 |
32 |
Radar (240 km),
Look-Down Radar |
Enclosed |
SH-60B Seahawk
(MEF-MOD) |
$11,671,219 |
JP8 |
2.93 tons |
13.48 tons |
5 |
33 |
FLIR, Radar (240km),
Look-Down Radar, Image Intensifier |
Enclosed |
SH-60B Seahawk (Block
I) |
$12,049,725 |
JP8 |
2.74 tons |
14.24 tons |
5 |
34 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, Radar (240km), Look-Down Radar, 2nd Gen Image
Intensifier |
Enclosed |
SH-60F Ocean Hawk |
$7,806,579 |
JP8 |
3.27 tons |
12.1 tons |
6 |
30 |
Weather Radar (150km) |
Enclosed |
SH-60I Seahawk |
$9,663,446 |
JP8 |
3 tons |
13.19 tons |
3+6 |
40 |
FLIR, Weather Radar
(150km), Radar (40km) |
Shielded |
HH-60H Rescue Hawk |
$12,195,678 |
JP8 |
2.72 tons |
15.95 tons |
3+ 2 Stretchers and 4
sitting patients, or 8 troops |
34 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, Weather Radar (50km) |
Enclosed |
HH-60J Jayhawk |
$11,519,053 |
JP8 |
2.58 tons |
15.45 tons |
4+2 Stretchers and 4
sitting patients, or 6 sitting patients |
32 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, Weather Radar (150km),
Radar (50km), Look-Down Radar |
Enclosed |
MH-60R Romeo Hawk |
$25,240,072 |
JP8 |
2.71 tons |
15.27 tons |
4 |
30 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, Weather Radar (150km),
Radar (300km), ISAR Radar (300km), Look-Down Radar |
Enclosed |
M-60S Knighthawk |
$14,719,433 |
JP8 |
4.22 tons |
14.37 tons |
6+ 2 Stretchers and 4
sitting patients, or 12 troops |
30 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, Weather Radar (150km),
Radar (100km), Look-Down Radar |
Enclosed |
MH-60T Jayhawk |
$10,151,044 |
JP8 |
2.23 tons |
16.84 tons |
4+6 |
33 |
2nd Gen
FLIR, 2nd Gen Image Intensification, Weather Radar (150km),
Radar (150km), Look-Down Radar, ISAR Radar (150 km) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com
Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel
Cap |
Fuel
Cons |
Ceiling |
SH-60B Seahawk
(Early) |
389 |
183 |
38/45 |
3800 |
1649 |
5790 |
SH-60B Seahawk
(MEF-MOD) |
437 |
206 |
43/40 |
3800 |
1853 |
5790 |
SH-60B Seahawk (Block
I) |
422 |
199 |
42/40 |
3800 |
1918 |
5790 |
SH-60F Ocean Hawk |
464 |
219 |
46/40 |
3150 |
1968 |
5790 |
SH-60I Seahawk |
442 |
209 |
44/40 |
2756 |
2066 |
5790 |
HH-60H Rescue Hawk |
399 |
188 |
40/40 |
3150 |
2295 |
5790 |
HH-60J Jayhawk |
403 |
190 |
40/40 |
3674 |
1838 |
5790 |
MH-60R Romeo Hawk |
394 |
186 |
39/40 |
3800 |
1789 |
5790 |
M-60S Knighthawk |
419 |
198 |
42/40 |
3800 |
1901 |
5790 |
MH-60T Jayhawk |
370 |
175 |
37/40 |
3674 |
1761 |
5790 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
SH-60B Seahawk
(Early) |
IR Suppression, MAD
Sensor, Sonobuoys (125), INS, Secure Radios |
40m |
+2 |
6 Hardpoints |
None |
SH-60B Seahawk
(MEF-MOD) |
IR Suppression, MAD
Sensor, Sonobuoys (125), INS, Secure Radios, Laser Jammer, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/40), RWR |
40m |
+2 |
6 Hardpoints, 2xM-60D
Doorguns |
3000x7.62mm |
SH-60B Seahawk (Block
I) |
IR Suppression, MAD
Sensor, Sonobuoys (100), Secure Radios, Laser Jammer, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/40), AIRBAC Dispenser (1), RWR, GPS |
40m |
+3 |
7 Hardpoints,
2xGAU-19/A Doorguns |
1500x.50 |
SH-60F Ocean Hawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Dipping Sonar, Sonobuoys (8), Flare/Chaff Dispensers (30/30), AIRBAC
|
40m |
+1 |
5 Hardpoints, 2xM-60D
or M-240D or M-2HB Doorguns |
3000x7.62mm or
1500x.50 |
SH-60I Seahawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40/10), RWR, GPS, ECM, ECCM, IRCM, Secure
Radios, Satcom Radio, Radio Jammer (15 km), NBC Overpressure |
40m |
None |
5 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
None |
HH-60H Rescue Hawk |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers (60/60/10), RWR, LWR, INS/GPS, ECM, ECCM, IRCM,
Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, Radio Jammer (15 km), Laser Designator,
Laser Rangefinder |
40m |
+2 |
7 Hardpoints, 2xM-60D
or M-240D or M-134 or M-2HB or GAU-19/A Doorguns |
4000x7.62mm or
2500x.50 |
HH-60J Jayhawk |
IFF, GPS, IR
Suppression, RWR, GPS, Secure Radios |
40m |
None |
5 Hardpoints (ESSS),
M-240D, M-107A1 Sniper Rifle Doorguns |
3000x7.62mm, 30
10-Round Magazines .50 |
MH-60R Romeo Hawk |
IFF, BMS, IR
Suppression, Dipping Sonar, Sonobuoys (80), Secure Radios, Laser Jammer,
Laser Designator, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40), AIRBAC Dispenser (1),
RWR, GPS, Radio Jammer (30km), ECM, ECCM, IRCM (30km each) |
40m |
+3 |
7 Hardpoints,
2xM-240D or M-134 or M-2HB or GAU-19A Doorguns |
4000x7.62mm or
2500x.50 |
M-60S Knighthawk |
IFF, BMS, IR
Suppression, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, Laser Designator, Laser
Rangefinder, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, GPS, Radio Jammer
(30km), ECM, ECCM, IRCM (30km each) |
40m |
+3 |
7 Hardpoints,
2xM-240D or M-134 or M-2HB or GAU-19A Doorguns |
4000x7.62mm or
2500x.50 |
MH-60T Jayhawk |
IFF, GPS, IR
Suppression, RWR, GPS, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, Look-Down Radar,
Laser Designator, Laser Rangefinder, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (30/30),
Radio Jammer (30km), IRCM (30 km) |
40m |
+2 |
7 hardpoints, M-240H
and M-107A1 Sniper Rifle Doorguns |
3000x7.62mm, 30
10-Round Magazines .50 |
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel
Type |
Load |
Veh
Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
UH-60A |
$463,832 |
JP8 |
3.63 tons |
9.19 tons |
4+11 |
None |
Enclosed |
|
UH-60L |
$604,339 |
AvG |
4.39 tons |
11.11 tons |
3+14 |
14 |
None |
Enclosed |
HH-60J |
$992,516 |
AvG |
3.92 tons |
9.93 tons |
3+14 |
18 |
FLIR, Image
Intensification |
Enclosed |
VH-60N |
$1,282,030 |
AvG |
3 tons |
10 tons |
3+6 |
24 |
FLIR, Radar (Weather) |
Shielded |
SH-60B (Early) |
$1,424,720 |
AvG |
3.74 kg |
9.93 kg |
3+6 |
24 |
Radar |
Enclosed |
SH-60B (Late) |
$1,854,730 |
AvG |
3.74 kg |
10.51 tons |
3+6 |
24 |
FLIR, Radar, Image
Intensifier |
Enclosed |
SH-60B (Block I) |
$1,904,730 |
AvG |
3.74 kg |
10.57 tons |
3+6 |
24 |
FLIR, Radar, Image
Intensifier |
Enclosed |
SH-60F |
$1,538,888 |
AvG |
3.74 tons |
9.42 tons |
3+9 |
20 |
Radar |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com
Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel
Cap |
Fuel
Cons |
Ceiling |
UH-60A |
592 |
148 |
40/37 |
2756 |
4000 |
|
UH-60L |
589 |
147 |
40/37 |
3500 |
1435 |
4000 |
HH-60J |
604 |
151 |
40/38 |
3500 |
1350 |
4000 |
VH-60N |
586 |
147 |
40/38 |
3500 |
1350 |
4000 |
SH-60B (Early) |
518 |
130 |
40/37 |
3800 |
1217 |
4000 |
SH-60B (Late/Block I) |
525 |
132 |
40/37 |
3800 |
1350 |
4000 |
SH-60F |
604 |
151 |
40/37 |
2233 |
1350 |
4000 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
UH-60A |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers, RWR, GPS |
40m |
None |
2xMAG, M-60,
GAU-19/A, or M-134 Doorguns |
2000x7.62mm |
UH-60L |
IFF, IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR, GPS, IRCM |
40m |
None |
2xMAG Doorguns |
2000x7.62mm |
HH-60J |
Secure Radios, IR
Suppression, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR, GPS, IRCM |
40m |
None |
2xMAG Doorguns |
2000x7.62mm |
VH-60N |
IR Suppression,
Flare/Chaff Dispensers. RWR. GPS, ECM, IRCM, Secure Radios, Satcom
Radio, Short-Range Radio Jammer |
40m |
None |
None |
None |
SH-60B (Early) |
IR Suppression, MAD
Sensor, Look-Down Radar, Sonobuoys (125), Inertial Navigation, Secure
Radios |
40m |
+2 |
4 Hardpoints |
None |
SH-60B (Late) |
IR Suppression, MAD
Sensor, Look-Down Radar, Sonobuoys (125), Inertial Navigation, Secure
Radios, Laser Jammer, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR |
40m |
+2 |
4 Hardpoints, 2xM-60D
Doorguns |
2000x7.62mm |
SH-60B (Block I) |
IR Suppression, MAD
Sensor, Look-Down Radar, Sonobuoys (125), Inertial Navigation, Secure
Radios, Laser Jammer, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR, GPS |
40m |
+3 |
5 Hardpoints, 2xM-60D
Doorguns, GAU-19/A |
1000x7.62mm, 500x.50 |
SH-60F |
IR Suppression,
Dipping Sonar, Sonobuoys (8), Inertial Navigation, Secure Radios, RWR |
40m |
+1 |
5 Hardpoints, 2xM-60D
Doorguns |
2000x7.62mm |
Special Operations Black Hawks
Early Special Operations Black Hawks
The first
special operations Black Hawks were the M-60A Black Hawks.
(Well, this is not entirely
true; the HH-60D Night Hawk was the first
first attempt, but it proved unsuitable, and did not pass beyond the prototype
stage.) Some 30 UH-60As were modified for the special operations role, with
additional avionics, a NOD-compatible cockpit, a FLIR camera, doorguns, extra
internal fuel, and the ESSS winglets which were almost always carried, often
with a weapon load and extra fuel tanks.
The winglet weapons were assisted by a laser rangefinder, laser
designator, and a ballistic computer. They were used by the US Army special
operations forces (including Rangers on some missions) in the 1980s, before
being replaced by the MH-60L in the early 1990s.
The MH-60As were then passed to the Air National Guard and Reserves, to
operate with National Guard Special Forces units and Reserve Ranger units.
The MH-60A can drop up to three fast-ropes on each side, or four
rappelling ropes. The MH-60A was
operated by the 160th SOAR Night Stalkers, a special operations
aviation unit. The MH-60A, like
most special operations aircraft, is capable of Paving, or flying just a few
meters above terrain, like a miles-long roller-coaster ride; this is as much due
to the skill of the pilots as due to the TFR radar.
Most of the Black Hawks used during Operation Gothic Serpent were
MH-60As, though some were heavily-modified UH-60As and a few were MH-60L Pave
Hawks. (S-70As were used in the
movie.) The additional avionics
meant that the MH-60A’s crew could leave most of the flying on automatic and
allow them to concentrate more outside the cockpit, especially crucial in night
flying.
The HH-60G Pave
Hawk was the next step in the development of special operations helicopters.
It is most notable for the introduction of a helmet/sight interface for
the aiming and firing of its winglet- and sponson-mounted weapons.
(It cannot control the doorguns.) This sight interface can also slave the
weapons to a laser designator and laser rangefinder, or an MMW radar guidance
system for certain weapons. All 98
UH-60A Credible Hawks, plus some new UH-60As, were upgraded to the HH-60G Pave
Hawk configuration and designation; these are orientated towards the CSAR
mission and in the case of the former Credible Hawk, retain their medical suite
plus some added equipment (mainly room for six stretchers and four sitting
patients, and more IV, bandages, splints, and drugs), a blanket warmer for
hypothermic patients, and special “chill blankets” for hyperthermic patients.
The new UH-60As were modified to the same specification, but designated HH-60G.
They had HIRSS exhaust shields (a better version of the standard IR
Suppression), and room for door gunner positions on either side (something not
found on most dustoffs as a standard fit), though the door gunners and doorguns
are not normally carried on the HH-60G and MH-60G.
They have small freezers to cool the chill blankets, as well as a small
refrigerator for temperature-sensitive medicines.
If the doors are shut and locked, the Pave Hawks have the benefits of NBC
Overpressure (something which cannot be done with door guns mounted). It is
staffed with a Doctor, PA, or Nurse Practitioner, and two medical techs (and
sometimes door gunners; the stats below reflect this).
If simply deploying or recovering healthy or lightly wounded troops, the
stretchers are folded and the Pave Hawks can lift up to 11 troops. The aircraft
has a small EW suite, as well as the same electro-optical setup of the MH-60A,
except that the MH-60Gs have color weather radar. The MH-60Gs also have a BMS
installed, with over-horizon capability; it is normally used to receive
real-time information on their missions and surveillance information from drones
and satellites. Both have the
capability to detect the personal locator beacons that many special ops
personnel carry. Normally, the ESSS Winglets carry a pair of large fuel tanks,
as do the sponsons; however, the outer winglets often carry weapons, from
machineguns and cannons to rocket launchers and Hellfire missiles.
The sponsons sometimes carry Stinger or Sidewinder missiles if air
opposition is expected, or Sidearm missiles in a heavy radar environment.
Though designated differently, the HH-60G and MH-60G are essentially
configured almost identically; the MH-60G, however, has a more comprehensive EW
suite and has slightly more powerful engines of 1630 shaft horsepower each, and
the tail of the UH-60L for greater maneuverability.
Both are capable of Paving, as their name indicates, and can recover
troops via STABO, SPIE and McGuire rigs, and CRRC. Both have anti-icing systems
for the windshields and rotor blades,, and a retractable in-flight refueling
probe. They have a rescue hoist capable of lifting 300 kilograms with 100 meters
of cable. The HH-60G is primarily used by the National Guard, Reserves, and
Combat Commands in Europe, the Pacific, AETC, and Air Combat Command.
A small number are used by USAF Materiel Command for testing new
equipment, weapons, and flight regime testing.
The MH-60Gs are mostly assigned to SOCOM and flown by the Army’s 160th
SOAR (Nighthawks).
The “Transition” Special Ops Black Hawks
The HH-60L Pave
Hawk is, as the designation suggests, based on the UH-60L airframe and engines.
However, the HH-60L has more powerful T-700-GE-401D engines, developing
1940 shaft horsepower each. It has
the increase of maneuverability of the UH-60L. It is outfitted similarly to the
HH-60G, but also has a litter lift system what allows the crew to take in a
patient by sliding the patient table out, then pulling it back in and if
necessary, raising it to about middle of the height of the cabin.
The HH-60L has a full surgical care kit and suite, if the ride is smooth
enough to allow surgery (usually, only life-saving surgery is conducted aboard
the aircraft). Full patient
monitoring can be placed on the patient, whether on litters or sitting. In
addition to normal vessels, the HH-60L can land aboard hospital ships.
The HH-60L can also take 4 sitting patients, or the litter tables can be
swung up against the front and back of the cabin and the HH-60L can take up to
11 troops, plus the crew, or bulk cargo.
It should be noted that no equipment is removed from the HH-60L despite
its changing internal configuration. The cabin light may generate high-intensity
lighting for surgical or treatment use or lower lighting which is also
NOD-compatible. HH-60Ls are
normally marked as medical aircraft to (hopefully) avoid taking ground fire (fat
chance), and almost never mount door guns, though they often mount ESSS or
sponson-mounted weapons, and can fire a variety of weapons, from machineguns and
cannons to Sidewinder missiles.
(They are primarily CSAR and aeromedical aircraft.) ESSS and sponson hardpoints
almost always carry fuel tanks, and the HH-60L is also capable of in-flight
refueling. The HH-60L has a BMS
system and is fully integrated with Link 16 and BFT.
Its gunner uses the helmet/sight interface of the MH-60G and also has the
TopOwl helmet sensor system and the Pathfinder electro-optical suite.
The TopOwl system also shows on the helmet visor the location of friendly
assets, combat information, and overlays of information from the Pathfinder
suite.
The MH-60L
Direct Action Penetrator, also known as the AH-60L DAP, is a very different
animal from the HH-60L. It too is
based on the UH-60L, and has the same T-700-GE-401D engines, as well as the same
maneuverability. That’s where the
similarity ends. The DAP is an
attack helicopter, first and foremost; it’s designed to provide immediate fire
support to special operations teams, whether in action, during deployment, or
extraction. It also escorts other
helicopters in those roles. It
suppresses enemy fire in hot LZs.
The DAP can take a small team of four troops, but its primary role is to carry
weapons, and the cabin is most often filled with reloads for its weapons and a
pair of door gunners; troops are not often carried due to high gross aircraft
weights. The DAP carries the ESSS,
and on it, generally a pair of 30mm M-230 Chainguns on the outer hard point, or
Mk 19 AGLs instead of the 30mm autocannons.
These two hardpoints also often carry four Hellfires on the inner
hardpoints and rocket launchers on the outer hardpoints. A third hardpoint is
attached to the end of each ESSS, where a pair of 10-round Hydra-70 launchers,
four Hellfire missiles, two Maverick missiles, or four Stinger missiles or two
Sidewinder missiles. Sometimes, a
pair of M-3M or M-2HB machineguns are carried.
The main landing gear are extended in length; this prevents the Hellfire
missiles or rocket launchers on the wingtip hardpoints, when mounted, from
bumping the ground. The door gunner’s M-134s are able to be locked just slightly
less than forward to contribute to strafing and benefit from the sights of the
DAP. The DAP’s sponsons normally
carry external fuel tanks, but often carry weapons as well, and in fact are
capable of carrying bombs; one of the most common weapons carried on the
sponsons are a pair of M-134 Miniguns. The DAP has a BMS system and is fully
integrated with Link 16 and BFT.
Its gunner uses the helmet/sight interface of the MH-60G and also has the TopOwl
helmet sensor system and the Pathfinder electro-optical suite.
The TopOwl system also shows on the helmet visor the location of friendly
assets, combat information, and overlays of information from the Pathfinder
suite. The DAP has a comprehensive
EW suite as well as missile launch warning, radar illumination, and laser
illumination warning gear.
Modifications to the glass cockpit include an Armament System Processor Panel,
telling the gunner what weapons he has onboard, which ones to fire, and how much
ammunition he has; a digital video recorder (like a gun camera), a dual
helmet/sight interface (either crewmember may fire the weapons), and a HUD visor
in each helmet. The DAP has an
upgraded, robust electrical system upgrade to handle the sheer amount of
weapons. The DAP has existed since
at least Desert Storm; a few early examples were engaged in Scud-Hunting at the
time, though few were in service then.
The DAPs are exclusively flown by the 160th SOAR.
Weapons may be aimed by optical
gunsights (computer-assisted), laser guidance, or radio or radar-guidance.
The DAP has slightly thicker armor than the standard Black Hawk series.
The MH-60L DAP was replaced by the MH-60K DAP, which was in turn replaced
by the MH-60M DAP.
Despite the
designation, the MH-60K DAP is an upgraded version of the MH-60L DAP, differing
primarily in the advanced integrated cockpit (a modified form of that of the
UH-60M), the EW suite, the electro-optical suite, and the door guns able to be
mounted. It is also a little more
maneuverable than the MH-60L DAP, has upgraded navigation and communication
systems including color weather radar, integrated Aviation Support Equipment,
modular replacement packages and circuit boards, interactive MFDs, and has a
digital map generator, feeding from the GPS/INS system, the BMS, and the weather
radar. Some of the components are
more miniaturized and the MH-60K DAP is a little lighter than the MH-60L DAP,
with a slight increase in cargo capacity. It is capable of taking, deploying, or
recovering up to four troops by various means; however, this is not often done
due to the aircraft’s already high weight.
The MH-60K has an extendible in-flight refueling probe, but these were
not added until 2003. It otherwise has all the systems of the MH-60L DAP.
Deployment to the 160th SOAR began in 1994, but it started to be
replaced by the further-upgraded MH-60M in 2010.
The MH-60L Pave
Hawk (also known, less commonly, as the Black Hawk and the Velcro Hawk, for the
way things were just added in and “stuck on” the aircraft) uses the same base as
the MH-60L DAP, but is a special ops utility helicopter.
It is essentially a UH-60L with extra features added in to make it more
suited for its special operations missions.
These include a substantial electro-optical and EW suite. The MH-60L Pave
Hawk has a BMS system and is fully integrated with Link 16 and BFT.
Its gunner uses the helmet/sight interface of the MH-60G and also has the
TopOwl helmet sensor system and the Pathfinder electro-optical suite.
The TopOwl system also shows on the helmet visor the location of friendly
assets, combat information, and overlays of information from the Pathfinder
suite. It is equipped with an
extensive communications suite, including data capable modules that connect to
the helicopter’s instruments and electro-optical suite and can transmit video,
pictures, and data through its standard radios or its Satcom radio. It can
recover troops via STABO, SPIE and McGuire rigs, and CRRC; it can deploy troops
through rappelling or fast ropes, or by parachuting or helocasting.
The MH-60L also has a 300-kilogram-capacity hoist with 300 meters of
cable. It often sling-loads assault boats or light vehicles for use by the
deployed team. Interior rearrangement allows the carriage of one more troop over
the UH-60L. The MH-60L has the more powerful T-700-GE-401D engines. It can also
be kitted out as a Medivac chopper, in which case it has the setup and internal
capabilities and crew of the HH-60G/L.
Medical birds normally do not carry door guns or door gunners, and carry
external fuel tanks on their sponsons and ESSS winglets. For game purposes, the
medical version is identical to the HH-60L. The MH-60L often mounts ESSS or
sponson-mounted weapons, and can fire a variety of weapons, from machineguns and
cannons to Sidewinder missiles. The sponsons are enlarged and carry 700 liters
of fuel each. The MH-60L is also capable of in-flight refueling.
It is rumored that the MH-60L served as the base helicopter in the
construction of the Stealth Black Hawk (see below), but it more likely that the
modified Pave Hawk was built on the MH-60K platform.
Late and Current Special Ops Black Hawks
Despite the
designation, the MH-60K DAP is an upgraded version of the MH-60L DAP, differing
primarily in the advanced integrated cockpit (a modified form of that of the
UH-60M), the EW suite, the electro-optical suite, and the door guns able to be
mounted. It is also a little more
maneuverable than the MH-60L DAP, has upgraded navigation and communication
systems including color weather radar, integrated Aviation Support Equipment,
modular replacement packages and circuit boards, interactive MFDs, and has a
digital map generator, feeding from the GPS/INS system, the BMS, and the weather
radar. Some of the components are
more miniaturized and the MH-60K DAP is a little lighter than the MH-60L DAP,
with a slight increase in cargo capacity. It is capable of taking, deploying, or
recovering up to four troops by various means; however, this is not often done
due to the aircraft’s already high weight.
The MH-60K has an extendible in-flight refueling probe, but these were
not added until 2003. It otherwise has all the systems of the MH-60L DAP.
Deployment to the 160th SOAR began in 1994, but it started to be
replaced by the further-upgraded MH-60M in 2010.
Again, the
MH-60K is more advanced than the MH-60L Pave Hawk; the MH-60L and MH-60L DAP
were essentially interim models until the MH-60Ks were ready, but development of
the MH-60Ks started before the MH-60Ls in 1988.
The MH-60K is officially referred to as a Black Hawk, but is more
commonly referred to by SOCOM operators and crews as a Pave Hawk. They began
replacing the MH-60L Pave Hawks in 1994, and full squadron service began three
years later after field and combat testing; more changes were made to the
electronics and interior arrangements, and things like the sling hook and the
landing gear were made more robust. The aircraft was made more resistant to fire
with stronger rotor blades and a full armor cockpit with the cabin having a
titanium plate underneath it, and the cockpit and cabin are lined with extra
Kevlar. The MH-60L Pave Hawk
was almost completely replaced by the MH-60K by the start of the Iraq War. The
rotor and tail rotor blades are “cutter blades” – they slice through power lines
and cables that would bring down an earlier MH-60. The MH-60K is a more advanced
version of the MH-60L, primarily in the area of more advanced versions of the
avionics and instruments of the MH-60L, and for game purposes it primarily
manifests itself in a lighter, faster, and more responsive aircraft.
The MH-60K Pave Hawk has basically the same electro-optical suites, EW
suites, and fuel and weapons-carrying ability of the MH-60L, but they are more
advanced. Other improvements
include sponsons with 700 liters of fuel each, a pair of M-2HB machineguns at
the windows, and M-134 Minigun doorguns.
They have the electronic suites of the MH-60G and MH-60L, but in a more
miniaturized and advanced form, with the communications suite, for example,
being able to transmit video, pictures, information from the weather radar, maps
from the BMS and personal locator beacons.
The MH-60K is able to deploy and recover troops and their vehicles in the
same manner as the MH-60L and G.
The interior is rearranged, and has room for even heavily-encumbered troops, and
also carries a large amount of medical instruments and supplies, including two
elevated stretcher positions which fold up when not needed.
For game purposes, other capabilities mimic the MH-60G and L.
The MH-60M,
first reaching service with the 160th SOAR in 2011, is
essentially a Pave Hawk based on the UH-60M aircraft. They are, of course,
modified to special ops standards, from electro-optical and EW to the computers
and avionics. It is partially an
upgraded MH-60K, and part new aircraft.
(They are built on new airframes.) The avionics have been miniaturized in
some cases, and some new gadgets and avionics have been added in.
The MH-60M has a laser designator and laser rangefinder, and the TopOwl
helmet sensor system and the avionics computers have been upgraded to allow
better use of Hellfire or Maverick missiles carried on the ESSS or sponsons.
These lasers are on a turret in the nose of the aircraft, as are a
near-infrared sensor, a color TV camera, and the ISAR radar aperture.
The MH-60M can also take over the guidance for many types of ordnance
dropped or fired by other aircraft and helicopters, or even ground-launched
weapons. A large, bulbous fairing at the front of the nose of the MH-60M houses
the rest of the electro-optical suite.
Again, the sponsons are enlarged and each carries 700 liters of fuel, in
addition to having a hardpoint. It
also has a retractable refueling probe for aerial refueling. It is equipped with
an extensive communications suite, including data capable modules that connect
to the helicopter’s instruments and electro-optical suite and can transmit
video, pictures, and data through its standard radios or its Satcom radio. The
MH-60M uses more powerful YT706-GE-700 engines with 2638 shaft horsepower each.
Controls are by fly-by-wire systems, similar to most modern fighter and
bomber aircraft. They have hingeless rotors and wide-chord rotor blades that can
cut through most power lines and other cables without suffering major damage.
The new tail, stabilizer, and parts of the fuselage are built of a carbon
fiber/fiberglass honeycomb material, further decreasing weight. It can recover
troops via STABO, SPIE and McGuire rigs, and CRRC; it can deploy troops through
rappelling or fast ropes, or by parachuting or helocasting.
The MH-60M also has a 300-kilogram-capacity hoist with 300 meters of
cable. It often sling-loads assault boats or light vehicles for use by the
deployed team. Interior rearrangement allows the carriage of one more troop over
the UH-60L. It can also be kitted out as a Medivac chopper, in which case it has
the setup and internal capabilities and crew of the HH-60G/L (and is known as an
HH-60M).
The HH-60M is
the medical version of the MH-60M Pave Hawk.
It is often called the Dustoff Hawk. It is currently the primary special
operations medevac helicopter, and it based on the MH-60M airframe, engines, and
avionics. It is, however, optimized
for medical missions, and is often accompanied in its mission by an Apache
gunship or DAP helicopter to protect it.
Though officially called the Black Hawk, it is more commonly known as the
Medevac or Medevac Pave Hawk to its users and crews.
It has the mechanical improvements and engines of the MH-60M, with a
rearranged interior able to carry an amount of medical supplies that would make
a hospital emergency room proud, and bubble side windows to fit the new supply
lockers and their displacement of two of the stretchers.
Though it does not normally carry weapons, and rarely carries door or
window guns, it can carry them on its ESSS winglets, and has a laser rangefinder
and designator for Hellfire missiles, or can carry machineguns on the winglets
or sponsons for delivering suppressive fire.
Medical gear carried is similar to that of the HH-60G and HH-60L, with
the power slide out and lift stretcher tables of the HH-60L.
The stretcher platforms can also be folded up against the sides of the
aircraft, to allow for a large number of sitting casualties or simple
extraction. The crew generally consists of its two pilots, a doctor or PA
trained in emergency procedures, and a medic with similar training. Six
stretcher and four sitting patients may be carried; for each stretcher pad
folded, one more sitting patient may be accommodated.
It can also extract up to nine regular troops and their gear, for a total
of 11. The HH-60M has a full surgical care kit and suite, if the ride is smooth
enough to allow surgery (usually, only life-saving surgery is conducted aboard
the aircraft). Full patient
monitoring can be placed on the patient, whether on litters or sitting. The
HH-60M has medical suction devices with an internal tank for medical and
hazardous waste, as well as bins for soiled bandages, gauze, sponges, bit of
uniform cut away, etc. In addition to normal vessels, the HH-60M can land aboard
hospital ships. The HH-60M can also
take 4 sitting patients, or the litter tables can be swung up against the front
and back of the cabin and the HH-60L can take up to 11 troops, plus the crew, or
bulk cargo. It should be noted that
no equipment is removed from the HH-60M despite its changing internal
configuration. The cabin light may generate high-intensity lighting for surgical
or treatment use or lower lighting which is also NOD-compatible. ESSS hardpoints
almost always carry fuel tanks, and the HH-60M is also capable of in-flight
refueling. The HH-60M has a BMS
system and is fully integrated with Link 16 and BFT.
Its gunner uses the helmet/sight interface of the MH-60G and also has the
TopOwl helmet sensor system and the Pathfinder electro-optical suite.
The TopOwl system also shows on the helmet visor the location of friendly
assets, combat information, and overlays of information from the Pathfinder
suite, the ISAR radar, and the video and photo links to headquarters. The
avionics have been miniaturized in some cases, and some new gadgets and avionics
have been added in. The lasers are
on a turret in the nose of the aircraft, as are a near-infrared sensor, a color
TV camera, and the ISAR radar aperture. The sponsons are enlarged and each
carries 700 liters of fuel, in addition to having a hardpoint.
Other avionics not specifically addressed here or in the stats are mostly
as on the MH-60M, while medical appointments are otherwise similar to the HH-60G
and L for game purposes (the better of the two aircraft).
With doors closed and sealed, the cabin retains a sterile environment and
the benefits of NBC Overpressure, along with an internal air evacuator to rid
the aircraft of contaminated air.
There are also air filters and air exchangers. In addition to SOCOM, the HH-60M
is used by the South Dakota National Guard, who operates six of them, the 82nd
Airborne Division, and the 25th Infantry Division.
Some 30 are operated by SOCOM.
The HH-60M will eventually replace the HH-60G and HH-60L in all uses.
The MH-60M DAP
(Defensive Armed Penetrator, in the case of the MH-60M DAP) is sometimes called
the AH-60M, though this is not an official designation. It essentially an MH-60K
DAP upgraded to the MH-60M configuration, and then more.
First of all, they have more powerful engines -- YT706-GE-700As, which
develop 2700 shaft horsepower each.
These are somewhat more powerful than those of even the MH-60M Pave Hawk and go
a long way towards mitigating the MH-60M DAP’s greatly-increased weight over the
MH-60 Pave Hawk. (The DAP also is not set up to carry troops, being filled with
extra fuel and reloads for its weapons.) The MH-60M DAP has numerous
modifications, ranging from electro-optical and EW to the computers and
avionics. It is partially an
upgraded MH-60K DAP, and part new aircraft. The avionics have been miniaturized
in some cases, and some new gadgets and avionics have been added in.
The MH-60M has a laser designator and laser rangefinder. The TopOwl
helmet system has been replaced with an Apache-type helmet with a monocle for
night vision, enhanced vision, and weapons use while retaining a view outside
the cockpit and of the instruments. The MH-60M also has an enhanced HUD that
allows the pilot and copilot/gunner to spot targets and keep track of aircraft
functions, and also has a HUD interface.
The avionics computers have been upgraded to allow better use of Hellfire
or Maverick missiles carried on the ESSS or sponsons.
These lasers are on a turret in the nose of the aircraft, as are a
near-infrared sensor, a color TV camera, and the ISAR radar aperture.
(It should be noted that the MH-60M DAP normally carries fixed
forward-firing Miniguns on the sponsons, with ammunition drums behind them on
the sponson; this is the normal loadout, though other weapons can be carried.)
The radar is more of a fighter-type radar, with a true EW suite, and the ability
to see in 270 degrees, including up and down (the crew can “look through the
roof” and look through the floor” to see enemy targets and personal locator
beacons. The MH-60M can also take over the guidance for many types of ordnance
dropped or fired by other aircraft and helicopters, or even ground-launched
weapons. A large, bulbous fairing at the front of the nose of the MH-60M houses
the rest of the electro-optical suite.
The MH-60M DAP is capable of carrying a variety of new weapons, such as
small JDAMs, iron bombs and laser-guided bombs, subject to weight restrictions.
Again, the sponsons are
enlarged and each carries 700 liters of fuel, in addition to having a hardpoint.
It also has a retractable refueling probe for aerial refueling. It is
equipped with an extensive communications suite, including data capable modules
that connect to the helicopter’s instruments and electro-optical suite and can
transmit video, pictures, and data through its standard radios or its Satcom
radio. Controls are by fly-by-wire
systems, similar to most modern fighter and bomber aircraft. They have hingeless
rotors and wide-chord rotor blades that can cut through most power lines and
other cables without suffering major damage.
The new tail, stabilizer, and parts of the fuselage are built of a carbon
fiber/fiberglass honeycomb material, further decreasing weight.
The Stealth Black Hawk
There is still
very much an air of mystery surrounding what has been called the Stealth Hawk
(and reportedly referred to in the special ops community as the Ghost Hawk;
another, little used sobriquet is the Silent Hawk).
The Stealth Hawk is often given the designation MH-60X or MH-X or M-X,
though no official designation has been released to the public. It was first
revealed, in demolished form, during Operation Neptune Spear, the raid that
killed Osama Bin Laden, and some details, estimates, and inferences have leaked
out since then or been made by all from internet fans to aeronautics experts.
Though the Stealth Hawks used in Neptune Spear appear to be the first
two, it is rumored that since then at least six more Stealth Hawks have been
built and used, along with a few stealth A/MH-6s and possibly one stealth CH-47.
Most information
puts the Stealth Hawks as highly-modified MH-60Ls, though it is more logical
that MH-60Ks were used, since they were the most advanced Pave Hawks available
at the time of the raid. (The
MH-60M was just coming into service during Neptune Spear, with perhaps less than
ten available at the time).
Therefore, I have used the MH-60K as a base for this treatment.
The interior of the Stealth Blackhawk is largely unchanged from the
interior of the MH-60K; most of the modifications are external and consist of an
unspecified-composition add-on stealth-shaping panels and replacements for some
other aircraft panels with RAM and carbon fiber.
The windshields and windows are treated to that the troops and crew do
not create a large radar signature and so radar does not penetrate the glass.
The composition of the windshield and windows is not something I’ve been
able to find out. The add-on
stealth shaping is similar to the faceted construction of the F-117 Nighthawk,
with design lessons taken from the RAH-66 Comanche, and the working roots of the
rotors are capped with stealth shaping.
The rotors are wide-chord and the main rotor is hingeless.
The exhausts use an advanced form of the HIRSS IR Suppression.
Rotor noise is somehow dampened, and much quieter than that of even the
MH-60K, and this design lesson goes all the way back to a modified Hughes 500P
used in Vietnam, called the “Quiet One,” and which has such a reduced noise
signature that it was able to deploy crews to plant a wiretap.
The noise dampening gives the Stealth Hawks an advantage of 15-30 seconds
over normal MH-60s before they are heard on the ground. The design was also
influenced by the Indian HAL LCH and European Tiger attack helicopter, which
employ some stealth features. The
stabiliators appear to be swept forward, while the tails appears to be swept
back. The add-on shaping is said to add some 500 kilograms to the weight of the
aircraft, with other stealth systems and coatings adding more weight. Several
weeks of special training were done by the 160th SOAR pilots who flew
them due to their unique flying characteristics.
The Stealth Black Hawk has a retractable refueling probe, which retracts
into a RAM/stealth enclosure. The landing gear retracts partially, into
enclosures. With all external modifications added, the aircraft actually more
resembled an S-76 than an MH-60, though the appearance is superficial.
The Stealth Hawk is reputedly slower than a standard MH-60K and less
maneuverable. IR Searches and
IR-homing missiles are two levels more difficult; radar searches and
radar-homing missiles are also done at one level more difficult.
Radar-directed guns fire as if they are not radar-directed. LADAR. LIDAR,
and laser-guided searches and weapons suffer a -4 penalty.
If the Stealth Hawk’s doors are open, the radar stealth is negated.
This is of course, in addition to the ECM and IRCM equipment carried.
The development
and crew training were done at Area 51.
It should be noted that the crews from 160th SOAR had every
confidence in their ability to fly the exotic aircraft; however, the SEALs were
less than thrilled about the flight characteristics of the Stealth Hawk and
wanted to use the then-new MH-60Ms instead, or even MH-47s. This reticence was
exacerbated for the SEALs by the fact that the Stealth Hawks were totally
unproven in combat. (According to one source, the Stealth Hawks were sort of
forced upon the SEALs.)
Some sources say
that the Stealth Hawks were again employed in several raids by SEALs and Delta
Force operatives, with perhaps the most well known being the 3 July 2014 deep
penetration raid on an ISIS hideout in Syria.
The Stealth Hawks were also believed to be used in the raid to kill ISIS
leader Abu Sayyaf. They were possibly used in the raid to rescue relief workers
Jessica Buchanan and Paul Tisted from Somali pirates. The Stealth Hawks are most
likely kept at Tonapah Test Range in Nevada, where SOCOM has had a presence for
years, and where they test new concepts, aircraft, and practice flying and
raids. There is a
less-than-reliable rumor that the Israelis have been using two Stealth Hawks,
though this is doubtful. And of
course, it is presumed that the Stealth Hawk wrecked in Pakistan has been picked
over by the Chinese, Pakistanis, Russians, and Iranians.
For game
purposes, the Stealth Hawks are essentially MH-60Ks with a stealth shape and
treatment, such as RAM paint, on their fuselages and rotor blades and tails.
They do not normally use window or door guns, so as not to spoil their
stealth shape. They also rarely
mount ESSSs, and if they do, the ESSSs have probably been given a treatment
similar to the rest of the aircraft (including the fuel tanks), and used only to
carry extra fuel. Note that the
Stealth Hawk has no official designation, no official name, and does not
officially exist. This text and the
figures below are approximations and extrapolations.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
MH-60A Black Hawk |
$10,319,304 |
JP8 |
3.3 tons |
13.25 tons |
4+11 |
24 |
FLIR, Look-Down Radar (30km), TFR |
Enclosed |
HH-60G Pave Hawk |
$13,710,285 |
JP8 |
2.49 tons |
14.79 tons |
7+11 or 6 Stretcher Cases and 3 Sitting
Patients |
28 |
FLIR, MMW Radar (10km), Look-Down Radar
(30km), TFR |
Enclosed |
MH-60G Pave Hawk |
$25,070,334 |
JP8 |
2.02 tons |
16.67 tons |
7+11 or 6 Stretcher Cases and 3 Sitting
Patients |
30 |
FLIR, MMW Radar (15km), Look-Down Radar
(30km), Color Weather Radar (100km), TFR |
Enclosed |
HH-60L Dustoff Hawk |
$13,040,980 |
JP8 |
1.99 tons |
14.9 tons |
7+11 or 6 Stretcher Cases and 3 Sitting
Patients |
30 |
FLIR, Look-Down Radar (30km), Color
Weather Radar (100km),
TFR |
Enclosed |
MH-60L DAP |
$14,866,707 |
JP8 |
1.5 tons |
17.9 tons |
4 |
32 |
FLIR, MMW Radar (20km), Look-Down Radar
(30km), Color Weather Radar (100km), TFR |
Enclosed |
MH-60K DAP |
$21,656,152 |
JP8 |
1.68 tons |
16.75 tons |
4+4 |
30 |
2nd Gen FLIR, 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, MMW Radar (30km), Look-Down Radar (30km),
Color Weather Radar (125km), TFR |
Enclosed |
MH-60L Velcro Hawk |
$12,760,178 |
JP8 |
4.13 tons |
14.24 tons |
4+12 |
24 |
2nd Gen FLIR, MMW Radar
(20km), ISAR Radar (20km), Color Weather Radar (100km), TFR |
Enclosed |
MH-60K Pave Hawk |
$21,050,032 |
JP8 |
4.49 tons |
13.88 tons |
6+10 |
25 |
2nd Gen FLIR, 2nd Gen Image
Intensification, MMW Radar (25km), Color Weather Radar (125km), TFR |
Enclosed |
MH-60M Pave Hawk |
$22,227,383 |
JP8 |
4.84 tons |
13.53 tons |
6+10 |
26 |
3rd Gen FLIR, 3rd Gen Image
Intensification, MMW Radar (30km), ISAR Radar (25km), Color Weather
Radar (125km), TFR, Day/Night CCTV (500m) |
Enclosed |
HH-60M Dustoff Hawk |
$23,073,218 |
JP8 |
4.31 tons |
15.66 tons |
2+6 Stretcher Cases
and 4 Sitting Patients or 5+11 troops |
30 |
3rd Gen FLIR, 3rd Gen Image
Intensification, ISAR Radar (25km), Color Weather Radar (125km), TFR,
Day/Night CCTV (500m) |
Enclosed |
MH-60M DAP |
$25,248,749 |
JP8 |
2.63 tons |
18.1 tons |
4 |
32 |
3rd Gen FLIR, 3rd Gen Image
Intensification, ISAR Radar (30km), AESA Radar (60km), Color Weather
Radar (125km), TFR, Day/Night CCTV (500m) |
Enclosed |
MH-60X Stealth Hawk |
$29,293,221 |
JP8 |
4.08 tons |
15.5 tons |
2+12 |
34 |
3nd Gen FLIR, 3nd Gen Image
Intensification, AESA Radar (60km), Color Weather Radar (125km), TFR,
Day/Night CCTV (500m) |
|
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
MH-60A Black Hawk |
412 |
194 |
40/40 |
4570 |
1322 |
5790 |
HH-60G Pave Hawk |
390 |
182 |
38/40 |
3197 |
1378 |
5790 |
MH-60G Pave Hawk |
368 |
172 |
36/37 |
3197 |
1299 |
5790 |
HH-60L Dustoff Hawk |
415 |
194 |
41/37 |
3197 |
1465 |
5790 |
MH-60L DAP |
407 |
188 |
45/40 |
3300 |
1443 |
5790 |
MH-60K DAP |
436 |
202 |
48/37 |
3300 |
1544 |
5790 |
MH-60L Velcro Hawk |
453 |
209 |
44/37 |
4156 |
1711 |
5790 |
MH-60K Pave Hawk |
465 |
215 |
45/35 |
4156 |
1755 |
5790 |
MH-60M Pave Hawk |
536 |
247 |
52/35 |
4156 |
2024 |
5790 |
HH-60M Dustoff Hawk |
523 |
242 |
51/35 |
4156 |
1985 |
5790 |
MH-60M DAP |
480 |
223 |
48/35 |
4641 |
1699 |
5790 |
MH-60X Stealth Hawk |
417 |
193 |
40/45 |
4156 |
1728 |
5790 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF* |
Armament |
Ammo |
MH-60A Black Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (30/30), IR
Suppression, Secure Radios, GPS/INS, AFCS, RWR, Laser Designator, Laser
Rangefinder, Paving Flight |
40m |
+1 |
2xM-134 Doorguns, 4 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) |
3000x7.62mm |
HH-60G Pave Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40/10),
HIRSS IR Suppression, Secure Radios, GPS/INS, AFCS, RWR, Laser
Designator, Laser Rangefinder,
Paving Flight, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, Helmet/Sight
Interface, NBC Overpressure, ECM (10km), ECCM (10km), IRCM (10km) |
40m |
+2 |
M-240D and M-2HB Doorguns, 6 Hardpoints
(w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) |
3000x7.62mm, 1500x.50 |
MH-60G Pave Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (50/50/10),
HIRSS IR Suppression, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, GPS/INS, AFCS, RWR,
Laser Designator, Laser Rangefinder,
Paving Flight, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, Helmet/Sight
Interface, NBC Overpressure, ECM (20km), ECCM (20km), IRCM (20km) |
40m |
+2 |
2xM-134 or 2xGAU-19/A Doorguns, 6
Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) |
4000x7.62mm, or 2000x.50 |
HH-60L Dustoff Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (50/50/10),
HIRSS IR Suppression, Secure Radios, BMS, Satcom Radio, GPS/INS, AFCS,
RWR, Laser Designator, Laser Rangefinder,
Paving Flight, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, Helmet/Sight
Interface, HUD Visor, NBC Overpressure, ECM (20km), ECCM (20km), IRCM
(20km) |
40m |
+2 |
6 Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) |
None |
MH-60L DAP |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (30km), ECCM (30km), IRCM
(30km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 2nd Gen Laser
Designator, 2nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight, HIRSS
IR Suppression, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, AFCS, Helmet-Sight
Interface, HUD Visor |
40m |
+3 (Except Side Guns
when Manned) |
GAU-19/A or M-134
Doorguns; 8 Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2), 2xM-230 Autocannons
(Optional), Mk 19 AGLs (Optional), 4-8 Hellfire or 2-4 Maverick or 1-2
Sidewinder or 2-4 Stinger or 1-2 Hydra-70 RL Pods (Optional) |
7500x7.62mm or
4500x.50, 3200x30mm (Optional) or 4800x40mm Grenades (Optional) |
MH-60K DAP |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (40km), ECCM (40km), IRCM
(40km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 2nd Gen Laser
Designator, 2nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight, HIRSS
IR Suppression, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, AFCS, Helmet-Sight
Interface, HUD Visor, Interactive Glass Cockpit, Map Generation,
In-Flight Refueling |
40m |
+3 (Except Side Guns
when Manned; Then +1 for Doorguns) |
GAU-19/A or M-134 or
M-2HB or Mk 19 Doorguns; 8 Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) 2xM-230
Autocannons (Optional), Mk 19 AGLs (Optional), M-3M (Optional), 4-8
Hellfire or 2-4 Maverick or 1-2 Sidewinder or 2-4 Stinger or 1-2
Hydra-70 RL Pods (Optional) |
7500x7.62mm or
4500x.50 or 1450x40mm Grenades; 3200x30mm (Optional) or 4800x40mm
Grenades (Optional) or 9600x.50 (Optional) |
MH-60L Velcro Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (30km), ECCM (30km), IRCM
(30km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 2nd Gen Laser
Designator, 2nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight, HIRSS
IR Suppression, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, AFCS, Helmet-Sight
Interface, HUD Visor, 300kg Rescue Hoist |
40m |
+2 |
2xM-134 or 2xGAU-19/A Doorguns, 6
Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) |
5000x7.62mm or 2500x.50 |
MH-60K Pave Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (30km), ECCM (30km), IRCM
(30km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 2nd Gen Laser
Designator, 2nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight, HIRSS
IR Suppression, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, AFCS, Helmet-Sight
Interface, HUD Visor, 300kg Rescue Hoist, Armored Cockpit |
40m |
+2 |
2xM-134 and 2xM-2HB Doorguns, 6
Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) |
5000x7.62mm and 2500x.50 |
MH-60M Pave Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (30km), ECCM (30km), IRCM
(30km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 2nd Gen Laser Designator,
2nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight, HIRSS IR Suppression, Engine
Noise Reduced by 15%, AFCS, Helmet-Sight Interface, HUD Visor, 300kg
Rescue Hoist |
40m |
+2 |
2xM-134 and 2xM-2HB Doorguns, 6
Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) |
5000x7.62mm and 2500x.50 |
HH-60M Dustoff Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (30km), ECCM (30km), IRCM
(30km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 2nd Gen Laser Designator,
2nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight, HIRSS IR Suppression, Engine
Noise Reduced by 15%, AFCS, Helmet-Sight Interface, HUD Visor, 300kg
Rescue Hoist |
40m |
+2 |
6 Hardpoints (w/ESSS; Otherwise 2) |
None |
MH-60M DAP |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (80/80/40), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (60km), ECCM (60km), IRCM
(60km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 3nd Gen Laser
Designator, 3nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight, HIRSS
IR Suppression, Engine Noise Reduced by 15%, AFCS, Helmet-Sight
Interface, HUD, Armored Cockpit, Armored Fuselage |
40m |
+3 (Except Side Guns
when Manned; Then +1 for Doorguns) |
GAU-19/A or M-134 or
M-2HB or Mk 19 Doorguns; 8 Hardpoints (w/ESSS) 2xM-230 Autocannons
(Optional), Mk 19 AGLs (Optional), M-3M (Optional), 4-8 Hellfire or 2-4
Maverick or 1-2 Sidewinder or 2-4 Stinger or 1-2 Hydra-70 RL Pods, or
2xBombs (Optional); 2xM-134 Fixed Forward |
7500x7.62mm or
4500x.50 or 1450x40mm Grenades; 3200x30mm (Optional) or 4800x40mm
Grenades (Optional) or 9600x.50 (Optional); 7500x7.62mm |
MH-60X Stealth Hawk |
IFF, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (60/60/20), RWR, LWR, GPS/INS, ECM (30km), ECCM (30km), IRCM
(30km), LWR, Secure Radios, Satcom Radio, BMS, 2nd Gen Laser
Designator, 2nd Gen Laser Rangefinder, Paving Flight,
Advanced HIRSS IR Suppression, Engine Noise Reduced by 25%, AFCS,
Helmet-Sight Interface, HUD Visor, Armored Cockpit |
45m |
+2 |
6 hardpoints (w/ESSS,
Otherwise 2) |
None |