US Army orders six Black Hawk helicopters for medevac missions

Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal have announced a US$94.3 million order late last month to Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company in Stratford, to provide the Army with six program year five lot 45 HH-60M helicopters.

The HH-60M Black Hawk is the medical evacuation configuration of the MH-60M Black Hawk. It is a specialized multi-mission helicopter that can support medical, personnel or cargo transport missions. The aircraft is equipped with medical systems to provide critical care for as many as six patients.

Advanced avionics and special missions systems

Medical systems include a patient litter system, an on-board oxygen generation system, medical suction, patient monitors and high intensity night-vision-compatible lighting. The aircraft is also equipped with advanced avionics and special mission systems to assist the crew in locating and rescuing injured personnel. Specialized equipment includes a forward looking infrared (FLIR) system and an external rescue hoist.

The HH-60M's sister aircraft is the twin-engine UH-60M Black Hawk, which is the newest model of the Black Hawk family. It can serve in extreme conditions and is designed to replace the older UH-60A Black Hawk. It is the centerpiece of the Army's long-term effort to modernize the service's medium-lift helicopter fleet. Sikorsky has manufactured the Army Black Hawk since 1978.

Upgraded engines and rotor blades

Compared to earlier models of the Black Hawk, the HH-60M incorporates upgraded T700-GE-701D engines, improved rotor blades, and modern electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control.

The HH-60M provides additional payload and range, advanced digital avionics, better handling qualities and situational awareness, active vibration control, improved survivability, and improved producibility. The helicopter can fly as fast as 151 knots at altitudes to 15,180 feet, to distances as far as 276 nautical miles between refuelings.

Last year, aviation manufacturer CAE USA was authorized to proceed on the US Army contract to provide advanced helicopter flight training support services.