Sikorsky S-70
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sikorsky S-70 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| US Navy SH-60B Seahawk | |
| Type | Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky |
| Maiden flight | 1974 |
| Introduced | 1979 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | United States Army United States Navy United States Coast Guard United States Air Force |
| Produced | 1970s-present |
| Variants | UH-60 Black Hawk SH-60 Seahawk HH-60 Pave Hawk HH-60 Jayhawk |
The Sikorsky S-70 is a medium-lift military helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky. It is also known with the US military designation H-60.
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[edit] Development history
The S-70 family was developed to meet a US Army requirement to replace the venerable UH-1 Iroquois family of utility medium-lift helicopters in 1972. Three prototypes were constructed, the first (YUH-60A) flying in October 1974, and evaluated against a rival (YUH-61A) Boeing-Vertol design. The S-70 was selected for production and entered service as the UH-60A Black Hawk with the US Army in 1979. In the late 1980s the model was upgraded to the UH-60L (first production aircraft 89-29179) which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the -701C model of the GE engines.
Newer models are being engineered, which will extend the service life of both UH-60A's and UH-60L's well into the 2020s. They feature still more power and lift and state of the art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control.
The S-70 can perform a wide array of missions, including air cavalry, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation: several versions are even used to transport the President of the United States, which while carrying the President is known as 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 (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,050 kg) 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 navalised SH-60B Seahawk in 1983 and the SH-60F 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 250 ft (75 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 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 Seahawk platform.
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.
The Army also flies medical evacuation models which are configured as rotary winged medical suites. They also used the S-70 for special operations by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") known as the MH-60K at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The Maple Hawk was a variant offered by Sikorsky to the Canadian Forces during the tender to replace the military's search and rescue helicopters.
The unit cost varies with the version. For example, the unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million while the unit cost of the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk is $10.2 million.
[edit] Variants
[edit] H-60
- UH-60 Black Hawk: The basic military utility helicopter.
- UH-60A Black Hawk: US Army utility transport helicopter.
- UH-60B Black Hawk: Improved utility model. Perhaps planned, but never produced.
- UH-60B SOTAS: Proposed version, to be equipped with ground surveillance radar.
- UH-60J Black Hawk: Export variant for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Maritime Self Defense Force. Also known as the S-70-12.
- UH-60JA Black Hawk: Export variant for the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force.
- UH-60L Black Hawk
- UH-60M Black Hawk: Next generation Black Hawk. Expected to be in service by 2007.
- UH-60P Black Hawk: Export variant for the South Korean Army.
- UH-60Q Black Hawk: Aeromedical evacuation variant. Based on the -60A airframe. Very few produced. Aircraft stationed with the Tennessee National Guard.
- HH-60L Black Hawk: Aeromedical evacuation variant. Similar to UH-60Q, but based on the -60L airframe.
- MH-60K Black Hawk: Special operations variant for the US Army.
- MH-60A Velcro Hawk: Early special operations model for the US Army.
- MH-60L Black Hawk: Special Operations variant for the US Army.
- YEH-60A Black Hawk: Prototype electronic warfare, radio jamming model for the US Army.
- YEH-60B: Prototype stand-off acquisition model for the US Army.
- YUH-60A Black Hawk: Three prototypes of the UH-60A for the US Army.
- EH-60A Quick Fix: Electronic warfare version for the US Army.
- EH-60C Quick Fix: Electronic warfare, radio jamming helicopter for the US Army. Planned but never produced.
- GUH-60A Black Hawk: Static instructional aircraft. Used for technician training at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
- JHU-60A Black Hawk: Designated for test purposes.
- SH-60 Seahawk: US Navy variant for search and rescue, maritime patrol, ASW, all-weather and day/night.
- SH-60B Sea Hawk: Anti- submarine helicopter for the US Navy.
- SH-60F Ocean Hawk: Anti-submarine helicopter for the US Navy.
- HH-60H Rescue Hawk: Combat search and rescue variant for the US Navy.
- SH-60J Jay Hawk: Export variant for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. Also known as the Sikorsky S-70B-3.
- SH-60R Sea Hawk: now designated MH-60R
- YSH-60B Sea Hawk: Five prototypes of the SH-60B for the US Navy.
- HH-60 Pave Hawk: USAF heli-rescue variant for search and rescue, MEDEVAC, on day and night operations.
- HH-60A: Prototype for the HH-60D rescue helicopter.
- HH-60D: Prototype of early search and rescue variant for the US Air Force.
- HH-60E: Proposed search and rescue variant for the US Air Force
- HH-60G Pave Hawk: Search and rescue helicopter for the US Air Force.
- MH-60G Pave Hawk: Special Operations, search and rescue model for the U.S. Air Force.
- Maplehawk: Proposed search and rescue version for Canada.
- MH-60 Knight Hawk: US Navy medium-heavy lift helicopter.
- CH-60E: Proposed troop transport variant for the US Marine Corps.
- CH-60S Knight Hawk: now designated MH-60S
- HH-60 Jayhawk: US Coast Guard variant for maritime patrol, interdiction, and search and rescue
- HH-60J Jay Hawk: Search and rescue version for the US Coast Guard.
- VH-60 White Hawk: VIP transport
- VH-60A: Presidential transport helicopter, later designated VH-60N.
- VH-60N Presidential Hawk: The US Presidential transport chopper, Marine One.
[edit] S-70
The company name for the H-60/S-70 family is the S-70 Black Hawk
- S-70A Black Hawk: Military model for the export market.
- S-70A Fire Hawk: Firefighting variant of the UH-60L. Tank system designed and built by AERO UNION in Chico, California.
- S-70A-1 Desert Hawk: Export version for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.
- S-70A-L1 Desert Hawk: Aeromedical evacuation version for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.
- S-70-5 Black Hawk: Export version for the Philippine Air Force.
- S-70A-9 Black Hawk: Export version for the Australian army.
- S-70-11 Black Hawk: Export version for the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
- S-70-12 Black Hawk: Search and rescue model for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Maritime Self Defense Force. Also known as the UH-60J.
- S-70-14 Black Hawk: Export version for Brunei.
- S-70-16 Black Hawk: Engine test bed for the Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM 332.
- S-70-17 Black Hawk: Export version for Turkey.
- Sikorsky/Westland S-70-19 Black Hawk: This version is built under license in the United Kingdom by Westland. Also known as the WS-70.
- S-70-21 Black Hawk: Export version for Egypt.
- S-70-24 Black Hawk: Export version for Mexico.
- S-70-26 Black Hawk: Export version for Morocco.
- S-70-27 Black Hawk: Export version for Hong Kong.
- S-70B Sea Hawk: Maritime military model for the export market.
- S-70B-3 Sea Hawk: Anti-submarine version for the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force. Also known as the SH-60J.
- S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk: the Greek military variant which is a blend of the SH-60B and F models.
- S-70B-7 Sea Hawk: Export version for the Royal Thai Navy.
- S-70A (N) Naval Hawk: Maritime variant that blends the S-70A Black Hawk and S-70B Sea Hawk designs.* S-70C Sea Hawk: Export version of the SH-60F Sea Hawk.
- S-70C Black Hawk: Export version for China.
- S-70C-2 Black Hawk: Search and rescue version for Brunei and Taiwan.
- S-70C(M)-1 Super Blue Hawk: Export model for the Taiwanese military.
- S-70C(M)-2 Super Blue Hawk: Export model for the Taiwanese military.
[edit] Derivatives
- Sikorsky S-92 - Civilian medium-lift derivative of the Black Hawk.
- H-92 Superhawk - Military version of the S-92.
[edit] Users
The S-70 is used by over 20 nations. It is in service with the armed forces of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, the People's Republic of China, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Republic of China (Taiwan), Thailand, and Turkey, but is best known as the primary utility and assault helicopter of the United States Army.
[edit] External links
[edit] Related content
Related development
- Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
- Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk
- Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
- Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk
- Sikorsky MH-60 Knight Hawk
- VH-60 Presidental Hawk
- Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk
Designation sequence
- U.S. Military:
- Sikorsky:
Related lists
- List of helicopters
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of active United States military aircraft
