The Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin) "Armed Black Hawk" (ABH) is an Advanced Weapon System (AWS) add-on kit to the ubiquitous UH-60 "Black Hawk" multi-mission helicopter line. The package adds a dedicated attack functionality to the traditionally transport-minded, medium-lift, twin-engined helicopter while also enhancing over-battlefield survivability through proven technological and engineering measures. The core assets of the helicopter remain largely untouched while the tactical-level value of the product is increased.
The add-on package was qualified by the United States military during 2017. According to Lockheed Martin marketing materials, the modification serves only 3rd Generation Black Hawk helicopters and above.
With the AWS in place, the helicopter is given search, tracking, and engagement capabilities akin to a dedicated attack helicopter / gunship. This "all-in-one" solution can engage stationary as well as moving targets from the air, at-range, through ballistics, rocket, and missile fire depending on load out. As expected, the cockpit is an all-digital workstation complete with glass mission screens and software intended to reduce pilot workload. At the "chin" position of the aircraft is fitted an optics set (Electro-Optical / InfraRed) in a trainable "blister" unit for all-weather, day-night operation complete with laser-range-finder and target designator.
The helicopter carries its typical operating crew of two in side-by-side seating as well as a pair of door gunners and up to eleven combat-ready troops. Pilots are each given control over the four weapon stations through helmet-mounted components: ballistics being calculated in real-time and delivered to the pilot's optics set for more accurized firing "on-the-move".
The helicopter's physical form receives a slight face-lift as well: engine intakes are covered over in signature-reducing shrouds and wing stubs are affixed for the carrying of various ordnance options. Each wing stub has two hardpoint positions and can accept miniguns, rockets, and missile racks. There are side-mountings on the helicopter for the door gunners and these systems can be fixed to fire forward and controlled by the pilots.
In this advanced form, the Black Hawk can be used to more directly support Special Operations forces as well as traditional Army ground elements. Beyond its inherent enemy troop suppression capabilities, the ABH can also defeat enemy armor by carrying up to sixteen of the proven AGM-114 "Hellfire" Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) armor-defeating missiles. Beyond this obvious direct-contact ability, the helicopter is flexible enough to undertake armed reconnaissance / surveillance, maritime enforcement, and convoy support sorties. Furthermore, weapons and passenger seating can be stripped from the airframe to return the fuselage to its cargo-carrying roots and the external sling capability is retained for further enhanced hauling endeavors.
Supported weapon systems include 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) (side-mounted, crew-served or pilot controlled), 0.50 GAU-19 caliber miniguns (fixed, forward-firing), 7- and 19-shot 70mm "Hydra" rocket pods, and ATGMs.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.
✓Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
VERTICAL TAKE-OFF / LANDING (VTOL)
Series has a tactical capability to take-off and / or land vertically, a quality commonly associated with helicopters.
RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.
COUNTERMEASURES
Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.
ARMORING
Survivability enhanced by armor allocated to protect pilot / crewspaces and / or critical operating systems.
MULTI-ENGINE
Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
CREW-MANAGED
Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.
ENHANCED ACCESS
Design incorporates feature(s) that facilitates loading / unloading of cargo / personnel from the aircraft.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Length
64.6 ft (19.70 m)
Width/Span
53.6 ft (16.35 m)
Height
17.2 ft (5.25 m)
Empty Wgt
16,535 lb (7,500 kg)
MTOW
25,353 lb (11,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+8,818 lb (+4,000 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Sikorsky ABH production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Sikorsky ABH production variant)
Installed:
2 x General Electric T700 turboshaft engines developing 2,00 horsepower each driving four-bladed main rotor and 2 x Twin-bladed tail rotors.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Sikorsky ABH production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Four underwing hardpoints supporting 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns / miniguns, 70mm "Hydra" guided/unguided rockets, and AGM-114 "Hellfire" Anti-Tank, Guided-Missiles (ATGMs).
2 x 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) at door mountings.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 4
Mounting Points
-
-
-
7
5
-
-
-
4
6
-
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
Armed Black Hawk - Base Upgrade Package Name.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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United Arab Emirates (UAE); United States
