The US Army and Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, have signed a five-year contract to build 120 H-60 ​​Black Hawk helicopters worth about $2.3 billion.

According to statement  Program Executive Office Aviation, published on Monday, June 28, the contract provides for the supply of an additional 135 helicopters for the US Army, other government agencies, as well as foreign customers of military goods. In this case, the total value of the contract could reach $4.4 billion.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

“This multi-year agreement allows the Army to meet current and future asset needs through upgrades, refurbishments, replacements and the introduction of new technologies,” said Col. Calvin Lane, Project Manager for Utility Helicopters.

The first deliveries will begin in July, and the entire program will last until 2027. Sikorsky will supply UH-60 main modification helicopters and HH-60 MEDEVAC M medical evacuation helicopters, which have increased situational awareness, payload and greater range than other versions.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

This contract is the tenth multi-year manufacturing contract that the US Army has signed with Sikorsky. The state customer notes that such multi-year agreements "provide significant savings compared to annual contracts."

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a multi-purpose helicopter designed to transport personnel, various military cargo, as well as for the evacuation of the wounded. It entered service with the US Army in 1979, replacing the Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter. With the installation of additional pylons, it can be equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire rocket launchers and additional fuel tanks for long-range flights. Also in front of the cargo compartment can be installed machine guns M240, M134 and 30-mm gun M230.

Source: Breaking Defense

Евгений Ушаков
Evgenii Ushakov
14 years driving