Sikorsky S-70 Explained

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.^[1]

After entering service, the helicopter was modified for new missions and roles, including mine laying and medical evacuation. An EH-60 variant was developed to conduct electronic warfare and special operations aviation developed the MH-60 variant to support its missions.^[2] 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.^[1] 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.

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 2600lb of cargo or sling load 9000lb of cargo. The S-70 is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics, such as the Global Positioning System.

The United States Navy received the first navalized SH-60B Seahawk in 1983, and the SH-60F Ocean Hawk in 1988.

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 250feet cable that has a 600lb lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe. The United States Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in 1982.

The United States Coast Guard received the HH-60J Jayhawk in 1992. It utilizes the equipment of the HH-60G Pave Hawk on the navalized SH-60 platform.^[3]

The S-70A Firehawk is a version of the S-70 designed for firefighting, rescue, medical evacuation, and external lift of bulky cargo and equipment. The Oregon National Guard was the first military organization in the world to add the Firehawk to its inventory; the Los Angeles County Fire Department was the first municipal organization. Another Firehawk aerial firefighting operator is the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) with the S-70i variant.^[4]

The Army flies medical evacuation models configured as rotary winged medical suites. It also uses the S-70 for special operations by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, designated as the MH-60K.

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.^[5]

Operational history

Colombia

On 5 August 2010, to support its counter-narcotics and armed forces modernisation efforts, the US DSCA approved the Colombian government's request of additional 9 UH-60L (4 units allocated to the national police force).^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

The Philippines

First batch

As part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization efforts, the Department of National Defense signed a contract with PZL-Mielec for 16 S-70i variant of Black Hawk helicopters worth US$241.4 million in March 2019.^[9] This to further replace the Philippine Air Force's aging fleet of UH-1 Huey helicopters. The first six units were delivered in November 2020 while the second five units were delivered in June 2021.^[10] The final five units of the first batch were delivered in December 2021.^[11]

During a nighttime training mission, one unit of the new S-70i Black Hawk crashed killing all six crew on board.^[10] In response, the Philippine Air Force grounded the entire fleet until the investigation has been completed.^[12] The Armed Forces of the Philippines later on said that "Based on the investigating team’s report, no single factor can be determined as the only cause of these mishaps."^[13]

Second batch

On 22 February 2022, the Department of National Defense signed another contract with PZL-Mielec for an additional 32 S-70i Black Hawks worth US$624 million which included an integrated logistics support and training package for pilots and maintenance crew.^{[14] [15] [16]}

With the latest contract with PZL-Mielec, the Philippines is set to become the largest operator of the S-70i variant of the Black Hawk once full delivery of the ordered units are completed.^{[17] [18]}

Variants

See main article: List of Sikorsky S-70 variants.

H-60

• AH-60 Arpia III: Based on the UH-60H platform, is an indigenous development made by the Colombian Air Force, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) (Elbit Systems), and Sikorsky Aircraft. Main armament is Hellfire anti-tank missiles and a GAU-21 machine gun on an indigenously developed turret.^[19]
• 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.^[20]
• UH-60 Black Hawk: The basic military utility helicopter for the U.S. Army, with MH-60A, K, L, and M Special Operations variants.
  • VH-60 White Hawk: The U.S. presidential transport helicopter, Marine One, used by the United States Marine Corps Marine Helicopter Squadron One
• SH-60 Seahawk: Variant for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, maritime patrol, all-weather and day/night for the U.S. Navy.
  • Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk

A multimission maritime helicopter for the U.S. Navy

• • Sikorsky MH-60S, unofficially known as the "Knighthawk", maritime medium-heavy lift helicopter for the U.S. Navy
• HH-60 Pave Hawk: Heli-rescue variant for search and rescue, MEDEVAC, and combat search and rescue use on day and night operations for the USAF.
  • MH-60G Pave Hawk, Special Operations search-and-rescue helicopter variant for the U.S. Air Force.
• HH-60 Jayhawk: Variant for maritime patrol, interdiction, and search and rescue for the United States Coast Guard. The MH-60T Jayhawk is an upgraded version.

S-70

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.^{[21] [22]}
• 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).^{[23] [24]} 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.^[25]
• 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.^[26]

Derivatives

• Sikorsky S-71 - a proposed attack helicopter using dynamic components from the S-70.^{[27] [28] [29]}
• Sikorsky S-92 - Civilian medium-lift derivative of the S-70/H-60 with dynamic components based on S-70/H-60 components.^[30] The S-92 took its maiden flight on December 23, 1998, at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center, West Palm Beach, Florida.^[31]
• H-92 Superhawk - military version of the S-92. The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is the H-92 version for the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Sikorsky VH-92 - VIP transport version of the S-92.

Operators

Civilian operators

• Presidential Air Group^{[32] [33]}

• Colombian National Police UH-60L [(11, with 2 lost)]^[34] UH-60A (10)^{[7] [34]} (19 total)^[7]

• Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management Authority - Leased from Timberline Helicopters, Inc.^{[35] [36] [37]}

• Federal Police^[38]
• Jalisco State Police^[39]

• Police S-70i (3)^{[40] [41]} (2 on order)

• Ministry of Internal Affairs - S-70M (7, with up to 12 to be purchased). Used by SMURD and the Romanian Police.^{[42] [43] [44]}

• Ministry of Interior^[45]

• General Directorate of Security^[46]

• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)^[47]
• Los Angeles County Fire Department^[48]
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company^[49]
• San Diego Fire-Rescue Department^[50]
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection^{[51] [52]}
• Ventura County Sheriffs Department^[53]
• Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC)^[54]

• Main Directorate of Intelligence - S-70i BLACK HAWK (2^[55])

References

Bibliography

• Book: Leoni, Ray D. . RDL1 . Black Hawk, The Story of a World Class Helicopter . 2007 . American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) . 978-1-56347-918-2.
• Book: Tomajczyk, Stephen F. . SFT1 . Black Hawk . 2003 . MBI . 0-7603-1591-4.

External links

• S-70 Black Hawk family page at Sikorsky.com
• S-70 Seahawk family page at Sikorsky.com
• S-70i page at Sikorsky.com
• Sikorsky UH-60/S-70 Black Hawk Family page on centennialofflight.net
• Firehawk, Inc web site
• HELIS.com Sikorsky S-70/H-70 Hawk Family Database
• S-70i Black Hawk multirole combat helicopter(Air recognition)

Notes and References

1. Book: Bishop, Chris . Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk . 2008 . Osprey Publishing Company . 978-1-84176-852-6.
2. [#SFT1|Tomajczyk (2003)]
3. Web site: SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter . navy.mil . 20 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170148/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1200&tid=500&ct=1 . 23 April 2018 . live.
4. Web site: Aviation Program.
5. Web site: Canada orders review of SAR bidding . https://web.archive.org/web/20200707024623/https://www.flightglobal.com/canada-orders-review-of-sar-bidding/18773.article . 2020-07-07 . FlightGlobal . DVV Media International Limited . 1997-12-16.
6. Web site: Colombia requests nine more Black Hawks for counter-narcotics fight . flightglobal.com . 9 August 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131215162455/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/colombia-requests-nine-more-black-hawks-for-counter-narcotics-345919/ . 15 December 2013 . live.
7. Web site: La Policía de Colombia compró 10 helicópteros UH-60A Black Hawk . Webinfomil.com . 11 March 2017 . 19 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170320054540/http://www.webinfomil.com/2017/03/primicia-la-policia-de-colombia-compro.html . 20 March 2017 . dead. (in Spanish)
8. Web site: Magazine . Frag Out! . 2018-09-02 . Black Hawks for Polish Police . 2024-04-17 . Frag Out! Magazine . en-US.
9. Web site: 2019-06-06 . Philippines orders 16 Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopters . 2024-06-17 . ADAS 2024 . en-US.
10. Web site: Waldron . Greg . Philippine air force takes delivery of final S-70i Black Hawks . 2024-06-17 . Flight Global . en.
11. Web site: AFPAO . December 7, 2021 . AIR FORCE COMPLETES S-70i BLACK HAWK FLEET . June 17, 2024 . Philippine Air Force.
12. Web site: Philippine Air Force Loses New S-70i Black Hawk in Crash . 2024-06-17 . GBP . en-US.
13. Web site: Nepomuceno . Priam . September 2, 2021 . Many factors caused Black Hawk, C-130 mishaps: AFP . June 17, 2024 . Philippine News Agency.
14. Web site: ANDOLONG . ARSENIO . February 22, 2022 . DND signs contract for additional 32 S70i Black Hawks . June 17, 2024 . Department of National Defense.
15. Web site: Nair . Shalini . 2022-02-22 . Philippines signs $624m deal to purchase 32 S70i Black Hawks . 2024-06-17 . Airforce Technology . en-US.
16. Web site: Philippine DND Signs Contract for 32 Black Hawk Helicopters . 2024-06-17 . Media - Lockheed Martin.
17. Web site: Tiwari . Sakshi . 2024-03-12 . S-70i Black Hawk: Philippines Set To Become World's Largest Operator Of US Choppers; To Add 32 News Helos . 2024-06-17 . Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News . en-US.
18. Web site: Air Force to receive Black Hawk choppers in June . 2024-06-17 . globalnation.inquirer.net.
19. Web site: El Sikorsky AH-60L Arpía IV de la Fuerza Aérea colombiana: ¿Pasos hacia la disuasión efectiva? - Opinión Infodefensa América. Infodefensa.com. 9 March 2015. 4 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171004190745/http://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2015/03/09/opinion-sikorsky-ah60l-arpia-fuerza-aerea-colombiana-pasos-hacia-disuasion-efectiva.php. 4 October 2017. live.
20. Web site: Fuerza Aérea Colombiana presenta el AH-60L Arpía IV. www.webinfomil.com. 2017-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20171004191134/http://www.webinfomil.com/2015/02/fuerza-aerea-colombiana-presenta-el-arpia-IV.html. 2017-10-04. live.
21. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/08/342785/sikorsky-breathes-new-life-into-pzl-mielec.html "Sikorsky breathes new life into PZL Mielec"
22. http://www.sikorsky.com/About+Sikorsky/News/Press+Details?pressvcmid=ec821075c9257210VgnVCM1000004f62529fRCRD "First S-70i Helicopter Fully Assembled at Sikorsky Facility in Poland"
23. Web site: Sikorsky wins Turkish utility helicopter battle . FlightGlobal.com . 2011-04-21 . 2014-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141007204038/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sikorsky-wins-turkish-utility-helicopter-battle-355885/ . 2014-10-07 . live.
24. Web site: News . OnlineAMD.com . 2011-04-25 . 2014-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129014549/http://www.onlineamd.com/aerospace-manufacturing-desig-Sikorsky-Turkey-Black-Hawks-042511.aspx . 2014-11-29 . dead.
25. Web site: Can Turkey Afford Its Extensive Defense Plans? . https://archive.today/20130103042359/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120729/DEFREG01/307290002/Can-Turkey-Afford-Its-Extensive-Defense-Plans-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE . dead . January 3, 2013 . DefenseNews.com . 2014-06-27.
26. Web site: Perry2021-12-07T20:48:00+00:00 . Dominic . Sikorsky gains civil certification for new S-70M from FAA . 2023-12-10 . Flight Global . en.
27. Web site: American airplanes: Sikorsky . Aerofiles.com . 2009-04-26 . 2011-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120718125840/http://www.aerofiles.com/_sik.html . 2012-07-18 . live.
28. http://www.helis.com/timeline/sikorsky4.php Sikorsky Helicopters
29. Web site: S-71 image . deviantart.com . 2014-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170833/http://alanqua.deviantart.com/art/Sikorsky-S-71-profile-for-AAH-183033580?q=sort:time+gallery:alanqua&qo=3 . 2016-03-03 . live.
30. Donald, David, ed. "Sikorsky S-92". The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Barnes & Nobel Books, 1997. .
31. Frawley, Gerald. "Sikorsky S-92". The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003. Aerospace Publications, 2002. .
32. Web site: World Air Forces 2004 . Flightglobal Insight . 2004 . 17 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141025060900/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202335.html . 25 October 2014 . live.
33. Web site: Presidential Sikorsky S-70A-30. Demand media. 12 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214650/http://www.airliners.net/photo/Argentina---Air/Sikorsky-S-70A-30/1869263/L/%26sid%3Dce09c53d071176f2208a50724b1fd230. 1 February 2014. live.
34. Web site: Policia Nacional de Colombia . helis.com . 7 July 2022 . CN construction numbers.
35. Web site: 20 August 2020. BNPB Datangkan Chinook dan Black Hawk Untuk Tangani Karhutla. 11 December 2020. bpbnnews.id. id. 26 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126093353/https://www.bpbnnews.id/2020/08/20/bnpb-datangkan-chinook-dan-black-hawk-untuk-tangani-karhutla/. dead.
36. Web site: 18 August 2020. BNPB Datangkan 2 Helikopter Buatan AS untuk Tangani Bencana. 11 December 2020. inews.id. id.
37. Web site: 14 August 2020. Wow! BNPB Hadirkan Helikopter Chinook Dan Black Hawk Untuk Water Bombing. 11 December 2020. indomiliter.com. id.
38. Mexican Police Receive UH-60M Black Hawks . . March 2011 . 80 . 3 . 28 . 0306-5634.
39. Web site: Mexican State of Jalisco takes delivery of S-70i . October 2011 . helihub.com . 12 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130420032339/http://helihub.com/2011/10/01/mexican-state-of-jalisco-takes-delivery-of-s-70i/ . 20 April 2013 . live.
40. Web site: Black Hawk helicopters for Polish Police. 4 June 2018.
41. Web site: Third Black Hawk for the Polish National Police. . 2019-01-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190126001227/http://www.pzlmielec.pl/en/media/news/art,135,third-black-hawk-for-the-polish-national-police.html . 2019-01-26 . live.
42. Web site: Demonstrație a primului Black Hawk S-70M destinat României (Video). Elicopterul urmează să fie livrat MAI. ro. Defense Romania. 8 September 2022.
43. Web site: Al șaselea elicopter Black Hawk destinat intervenţiilor în situaţii de urgenţă a ajuns în România. Ciprian Iana. ro. Libertatea. 12 December 2023.
44. Web site: Echipamente noi pentru polițiști: Elicoptere, aparate drugtest și autospeciale cumpărate din fonduri europene. ro. Euronews. 26 December 2023.
45. Web site: Black Hawki z Mielca w Arabii Saudyjskiej . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160319141128/http://www.altair.com.pl/news/view?news_id=6493 . 19 March 2016 . 12 March 2013 . altair.com . pl.
46. Web site: Sayfalar - Bell 429 Album . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140506165238/http://www.havacilik.pol.tr/Sayfalar/Helikopterlerimiz.aspx . 2014-05-06 . 2014-06-27 . Havacilik.pol.tr . tr.
47. Web site: Cal Fire Places Purchase Order for Firehawk Aircraft. 2020-06-22. Lockheed Martin. en-us.
48. Web site: L.A. County Fire Air Operations . lacounty.gov. 2013-03-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20150315202509/http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/firehawks-mission-critical/. 2015-03-15. live.
49. Web site: PG&E Adds New Heavy-Lift Helicopters to Support Utility Infrastructure Projects, Enhance Wildfire Safety . 15 August 2023.
50. Web site: SDFD Debuts New Firehawk Helicopter. NBC 7 San Diego. en-US. 2019-12-13.
51. Black Hawk Made: A Peek Inside the Sikorsky Factory . Wired . wired.com . 12 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130217122222/http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/12/black-hawk-factory . 17 February 2013 . live. Paur . Jason.
52. Web site: CPB S-70 . Airliners.net . 2013-03-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130621014603/http://www.airliners.net/photo/US-Customs-%26/Sikorsky-UH-60A-Black/2059991/L . 2013-06-21 . live.
53. Web site: Ventura County preparing for arrival of Firehawks . 2022-07-05 . Vertical Mag . en-US.
54. Web site: Colorado’s New Firehawk Set for First Flight . 2024-08-01 . Aerial Fire Mag . en-US.
55. Web site: 2023-02-21 . На вооружении у бойцов ГУР появился американский вертолет Black Hawk (фото) . 2023-02-21 . ФОКУС . ru.