This article is about the civilian models and operators of the S-70 family, and is an overview of the whole family. For the military models and operators, see
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. For the naval versions and operators, see
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk.
The Sikorsky S-70 is an American medium transport/utility
helicopter family manufactured by
Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the
United States Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the
UH-60 Black Hawk and spawning a large family in U.S. military service. New and improved versions of the UH-60 have been developed since. Civilian versions, and some military versions, are produced under various S-70 model designations.
Development
The S-70 family was developed to meet a
United States Army requirement to replace the
UH-1 Iroquois family of utility medium-lift helicopters in 1972. Three
YUH-60A prototypes were constructed, with the first flying in October 1974. They were evaluated against the
Boeing-Vertol YUH-61A. The YUH-60A was selected for production, and entered service as the
UH-60A Black Hawk with the U.S. Army in 1979.[2]
After entering service, the helicopter was modified for new missions and roles, including mine laying and medical evacuation.[citation needed] An EH-60 variant was developed to conduct electronic warfare and special operations aviation developed the MH-60 variant to support its missions.[3] In the late 1980s the model was upgraded to the UH-60L, which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the -701C model of the GE T700 engine. The improved UH-60M model was developed in the early 2000s.[2] The UH-60M and its International version, the S-70i, include GPS navigation, a glass cockpit, an integrated Flight Management System, and a significant upgrade to the powertrain and rotor system adding both power and lift capability.[citation needed]
The S-70 can perform a variety of missions, including air cavalry, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation. Versions are used to transport the
President of the United States under call sign "
Marine One". In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops and equipment or carry the 105 mm
M102 howitzer, thirty rounds of ammunition, and a six-man crew. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600
lb (1,200
kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) of cargo. The S-70 is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics, such as the
Global Positioning System.
The
HH-60G Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the S-70 primarily designed to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war and equipped with a rescue hoist with a 250 ft (76 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable
in-flight refueling probe. The
United States Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in 1982.
The Maple Hawk was a variant offered by
Sikorsky to the
Canadian Forces during a 1996 tender to replace the military's search and rescue helicopters.[6]
Operational history
Colombia
In 5 August 2010, to support its counter-narcotics and armed forces modernisation efforts, the US DSCA approved the Colombian Govt's request of additional 9 UH-60L (4 units allocated to the national police force).[7]
In 2017 March, the
National Police of Colombia ordered 10 additional 2nd-hand UH-60A helicopters that will increase their total to 19 helicopters in operation.[8]
Poland
In 2018, Poland sign agreement to buy S-70i for Police aviation, to replace
Mi-2 reaching the end of their safe flying life.[9]
AH-60 Arpia IV: Based on the UH-60L, is an indigenous development made by the Colombian Air Force, IAI (Elbit Systems), and Sikorsky. Main armament is the
Spike NLOS and a
Nexter THL-20 gun turret.[11]
UH-60 Black Hawk: The basic military utility helicopter for the U.S. Army, with MH-60A, K, L, and M Special Operations variants.
The company name for the H-60/S-70 family is the S-70 Black Hawk.
S-70A Black Hawk (
UH-60 Black Hawk): Military model for the export market.
S-70A Firehawk: Firefighting variant of the UH-60L. Tank system designed and built by
Aero Union in Chico, California.
S-70A (N) Naval Hawk: Maritime variant that blends the S-70A Black Hawk and S-70B Seahawk designs.
S-70B/C Seahawk: Maritime military model for the export market.
S-70A-9: Australian derivative Black Hawk
S-70C Firehawk: Civilian water-bomber variant
S-70i Black Hawk: International military version assembled by Sikorsky subsidiary,
PZL Mielec in Poland.[12][13]
Turkish Aerospace Industries T-70: A Turkish variant of the S-70i, built under license by
Turkish Aerospace Industries with indigenous Turkish mission-computer and avionics (by
ASELSAN); flight controls, landing gear and transmission (by
Alp Aviation); and T700-TEI-701D engines under license from General Electric (by
Tusaş Engine Industries).[14][15] Turkey was to initially produce about 109 T70s under license. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Frank Ricciardone stated that Turkey intends to produce some 600 T70s.[16]
S-70M Black Hawk: FAA type certified (Restricted Category Special Airworthiness Certificate) version based on S70i Black Hawk manufactured by Sikorsky subsidiary,
PZL Mielec in Poland. S-70M Black Hawk helicopter is available to the US commercial/civil market for the missions such as agricultural operations, external cargo carriage and forest and wildlife conservation, which includes aerial firefighting missions.[17]
Derivatives
Sikorsky S-71 - a proposed attack helicopter using dynamic components from the S-70.[18][19][20]
Sikorsky S-92 - Civilian medium-lift derivative of the S-70/H-60 with dynamic components based on S-70/H-60 components.[21] The S-92 took its maiden flight on December 23, 1998, at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center, West Palm Beach, Florida.[22]
^ maximum fuel is 360 US gal (300 imp gal; 1,363 L) internal and two 185 US gal (154 imp gal; 700 L) cabin auxiliary tanks and up to four 450 US gal (375 imp gal; 1,703 L) or 230 US gal (192 imp gal; 871 L) drop tanks
^"Sikorsky". www.sikorsky.com.
Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
^
abBishop, Chris (2008). Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. Osprey Publishing Company.
ISBN978-1-84176-852-6.