Sikorsky has announced a new US Army contract that will fund Black Hawk modernisation engineering efforts. The initial $43 million contract award will focus on foundational capabilities for modernisation: enhancement of the airframe and inclusion of a digital backbone capability to allow for rapid unmanned aerial systems (UAS) integration.
“Sikorsky is ready to implement new technologies that will strengthen the combat-proven Black Hawk helicopter and give U.S. Army soldiers greater advantage in areas like the Indo-Pacific,” vice president, Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky, Hamid Salim, said.
“Integrating launched effects into the Black Hawk will enhance its capabilities and provide a significant advantage. Modernization is reducing costs, increasing efficiency and improving the overall maintenance and sustainment for the aircraft.”
The contract also includes development of requirements and architecture using model-based systems engineering (MBSE).
The contract will support the US Army's near-term priority to integrate launched effects into the Black Hawk, enabling the aircraft to deploy UAS and other effects to enhance its mission capabilities. Lockheed Martin is working with the US Army to deliver a federated capability in 2026.
“Together with our team of hundreds of American suppliers, we are committed to delivering the most advanced and capable modernized Black Hawk to the U.S. Army,” Salim stated.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the Army to ensure that the Black Hawk remains a vital component of our nation's defense capabilities for years to come.”
The MBSE and digital engineering effort will focus on developing a digital thread of the Black Hawk for collaborative and effective design, testing and maintenance of the aircraft.
Sikorsky has fielded technology that it is hoped will lead to improved capability of a modernised Black Hawk. For example, Sikorsky is producing and delivering upturned exhaust systems II kits. These kits provide the Black Hawk and a modernised Black Hawk with significant performance improvements in the areas of InfraRed suppression, weight reduction, as well as improvements in reliability and maintainability.