Black Hawk UH-60

MISSION: The Black Hawk provides light utility and assault helicopter capability.

CHARACTERISTICS: The Black Hawk is a light transport helicopter that performs many missions in the Army. The Black Hawk is the primary helicopter for air assault, air cavalry, and aeromedical evacuation units. Modified Black Hawks also fulfill command and control, electronic warfare, and special operations roles. The Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of the Army because of its dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability compared to the UH-1 "Huey" it replaces. Now, an entire 11-man, fully equipped infantry squad can be lifted in one Black Hawk, and the troops can be transported faster and in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk also is the first utility and assault helicopter that adds to the Army's Division-level mobility; for example, it can reposition a 105mm howitzer, its crew of six, and up to 30 rounds of ammunition in a single lift. The aircraft's critical components and systems are armored or redundant to enable it to withstand multiple small arms hits, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers in a crash. Ease of maintenance in the field was designed into the Black Hawk from the beginning.

As for the assault role, the Blackhawk is capable of mounting its external stores support system(ESSS).

UH-60A
Price: 25,000 for the refit
Max gross weight: 22,000 lb
Cruise speed: 139 kt
Endurance: 2.3 hr
Max range: 320 nm
Crew: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief
Armament: two 7.62 mm machine guns guns
Payload: 2,640 lb (or 11 combat equipped troops)
External load: 8,000 lb
MDC: 950