Last week, the US Army officially unveiled the UH-60V, a new variant of the multipurpose helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky.
The new Black Hawk is actually an update of the UH-60L version aimed at equipping it with a digital and modular cockpit supplied by Northrop Grumman.
The entire program was done by the Army itself without the involvement of Sikorsky. Six aircraft were converted and delivered to the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Pennsylvania in July.
“The ‘Victor’ model will extend the Army’s capability and capacity to meet the demands placed on the joint force,” Pennsylvania Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler said. “Additionally, the model will ensure national security and support warfighters now and well into the future.”
In addition to the ‘glass’ cockpit, the UH-60V incorporates a certified GPS RNAV database and advanced flight planning and mission capability.
The Black Hawk helicopter modernization program has been seven years since Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract. The prototype’s first flight took place in 2017 and since then the company and the Army have carried out tests and the first conversions.
The US Army intends to complete certification of the UH-60V by March 2022 and to convert 48 aircraft per year in its own military facilities. The Army now has about 760 Black Hawks.
