The UH-60M features new wide chord composite spar main rotor blades (which provide 500lb more lift than the current UH-60L blade), strengthened fuselage and advanced infrared suppression. As of July 2012, Sikorsky had delivered 400 UH-60M helicopters.

More than 950 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by 2025. The UH-60M upgrade completed its maiden flight in August 2008. In December 2007, the US Army ordered 11 low-rate initial production (LRIP) upgrade UH60M. Under this contract six UH-60M utility and 20 HH-60M combat rescue helicopters were ordered in March 2008. Initial operational evaluation (OPEVAL) was successful and a decision on full-rate production of 1,227 helicopters was authorised in December 2007 with the award of a five-year contract. The first of 22 new UH-60Ms was delivered in July 2006. The new-build helicopter entered low-rate initial production (LRIP) in April 2005. The US Army initially decided to opt for new build helicopters rather than upgrade existing airframes. “The UH-60M features new wide chord composite spar main rotor blades.” The flight controls are ballistically hardened and the helicopter is equipped with redundant electric and hydraulic systems. The aircraft is tolerant to small arms fire and most high-explosive, medium-calibre (23mm) projectiles. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter designīlack Hawk has low detectability and outstanding nap-of-the-earth flight capabilities. The primary mission of the Black Hawk helicopter is as a troop carrier and logistical support aircraft, but in addition, the helicopter can be configured to carry out medical evacuation, command-and-control, search-and-rescue, armed escort, electronic warfare and executive transport missions. Licensed production of Black Hawk helicopters is also carried out in Japan and the Republic of Korea. The helicopters are manufactured at the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation production facilities based in Stratford, Connecticut, USA. More than 2,000 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter variants are in service with the US Military and more than 600 exported.īlack Hawk helicopters have logged over four million flying hours, including a diverse range of combat missions in Grenada, Panama, in the liberation of Kuwait, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and numerous humanitarian and rescue missions including operations in Bosnia.

US Air Force M116 auxillary fuel tanks