Sikorsky Details Future Upgrades to Black Hawk Helicopter

Black Hawk helicopter maker Sikorsky has disclosed future upgrades for the Black Hawk helicopter, which includes improved engines for better range.

The company says this planned modernization effort will improve Black Hawk’s availability and reliability by lowering direct operating costs.

Modular Open Systems Approach will be incorporated to allow for rapid integration of emerging technologies.

The Black Hawk will get an improved turbine engine to increase its lift capability and range, and an Advanced Digital Vehicle Management System supporting Degraded Visual Environment and automated operations.

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The helicopter will also get digital tools including predictive analytics that reduce aircraft downtime and maintenance costs.

In February 2022, Lockheed Martin flew its first uninhabited Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) Sikorsky UH-60A/S-70 Black Hawk testbed helicopter powered by Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy technology in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Subsequent flights at U.S. Army's Project Convergence 2022 demonstrated future utility missions for the platform, which shows no signs of relinquishing its preeminent medium-lift capability through continuous innovation and investment.