Sikorsky S-70

Last updated
S-70/H-60 series
CAL FIRE S-70i program.jpg
CAL Fire S-70A Firehawk in flight
RoleMedium-lift transport/utility helicopter
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft, Turkish Aerospace Industries (under Licence) [1]
First flightOctober 1974
Introduction1979
StatusIn service
Primary users U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
See Operators section for others
Produced1970s–present
Variants Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk
Mitsubishi H-60

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.

Contents

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. [2]

After entering service, the helicopter was modified for new missions and roles, including mine laying and medical evacuation.[ citation needed ] An EH-60 variant was developed to conduct electronic warfare and special operations aviation developed the MH-60 variant to support its missions. [3] 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. [2] 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.[ citation needed ]

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 2,600  lb (1,200  kg ) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,100 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 navalized SH-60B Seahawk in 1983, and the SH-60F Ocean Hawk in 1988.

HH-60G Pave Hawk conducting rescue ops in 2005 Katrina-14837.jpg
HH-60G Pave Hawk conducting rescue ops in 2005

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 (76 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 platform. [4]

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. [ citation needed ] Another Firehawk aerial firefighting operator is the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) with the S-70i variant. [5]

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.[ citation needed ]

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. [6]

Operational history

Colombia

In 2010 August 5, to support its counter-narcotics and armed forces modernisation efforts, the US DSCA approved the Colombian Govt's request of additional 9 UH-60L (4 units allocated to the national police force). [7]

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. [8]

Poland

UH-60 for Polish Police, 2018 Podpisanie umowy na zakup smiglowcow dla polskiej Policji (30.05.2018) (27581211077).jpg
UH-60 for Polish Police, 2018

In 2018, Poland sign agreement to buy S-70i for Police aviation, to replace Mi-2 reaching the end of their safe flying life. [9]

Variants

U.S. Navy SH-60B Seahawk SH-60B Seahawk2.jpg
U.S. Navy SH-60B Seahawk

H-60

S-70

The company name for the H-60/S-70 family is the S-70 Black Hawk.

Derivatives

Operators

Civilian operators

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
S-70C Firehawk at Fox Field, California Firehawk-s70c-N2FH-070919-fox-01cr-16.jpg
S-70C Firehawk at Fox Field, California
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

Specifications (S-70i)

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk orthographical image.svg

Data from S-70i Brochure [46]

General characteristics

7 ft (2.13 m) cabin width

Performance

149 kn (171 mph; 276 km/h) economical cruise

See also

Related development

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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References

Notes

  1. maximum fuel is 360 US gal (300 imp gal; 1,363 L) internal and two 185 US gal (154 imp gal; 700 L) cabin auxiliary tanks and up to four 450 US gal (375 imp gal; 1,703 L) or 230 US gal (192 imp gal; 871 L) drop tanks
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Bibliography