Sikorsky S-70

The Sikorsky S-70 is an American medium transport/utility helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the US Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the UH-60 Black Hawk and spawning a large family in US military service. New and improved versions of the UH-60 have been developed since. Civilian versions, and some military versions are produced under various S-70 model designations.

This article is about the civilian models and operators of the S-70 family, and is an overview of the whole family. For the military models and operators, see Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. For the naval versions and operators, see Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk.
S-70/H-60 series
Los Angeles County Fire Department S-70A Firehawk at Fox field
Role Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft, Turkish Aerospace Industries (under Licence)[1]
First flight 1974
Introduction 1979
Status In service
Primary users U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Government Flying Service (Hong Kong)
See Operators below for others
Produced 1970s–present
Variants Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk
Mitsubishi H-60

Development

The S-70 family was developed to meet a US Army requirement to replace the UH-1 Iroquois family of utility medium-lift helicopters in 1972. Three YUH-60A prototypes were constructed, with the first flying in October 1974. They were evaluated against the Boeing-Vertol YUH-61A. The YUH-60A was selected for production, and entered service as the UH-60A Black Hawk with the US Army in 1979.[2]

After entering service, the helicopter was modified for new missions and roles, including mine laying and medical evacuation. An EH-60 variant was developed to conduct electronic warfare and special operations aviation developed the MH-60 variant to support its missions.[3] In the late 1980s the model was upgraded to the UH-60L, which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the -701C model of the GE T700 engine. The improved UH-60M model was developed in the early 2000s.[2] The UH-60M and its International version, the S-70i, include GPS navigation, a glass cockpit, an integrated Flight Management System, and a significant upgrade to the powertrain and rotor system adding both power and lift capability.

The S-70 can perform a variety of missions, including air cavalry, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation. Versions are used to transport the President of the United States under call sign "Marine One". In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops and equipment or carry the 105 mm M102 howitzer, thirty rounds of ammunition, and a six-man crew. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600 lb (1,200 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) of cargo. The S-70 is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics, such as the Global Positioning System.

HH-60G Pave Hawk

The United States Navy received the first navalized SH-60B Seahawk in 1983, and the SH-60F Ocean Hawk in 1988.

The HH-60G Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the S-70 primarily designed to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war and equipped with a rescue hoist with a 250 ft (76 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe. The United States Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in 1982.

The United States Coast Guard received the HH-60J Jayhawk in 1992. It utilizes the equipment of the HH-60G Pave Hawk on the navalized SH-60 platform.[4]

The S-70A Firehawk is a version of the S-70 designed for firefighting, rescue, medical evacuation, and external lift of bulky cargo and equipment. The Oregon National Guard was the first military organization in the world to add the Firehawk to its inventory; the Los Angeles County Fire Department was the first municipal organization.

The Army flies medical evacuation models which are configured as rotary winged medical suites. It also uses the S-70 for special operations by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, designated as the MH-60K.

The Maple Hawk was a variant offered by Sikorsky to the Canadian Forces during the tender to replace the military's search and rescue helicopters.

Variants
US Navy SH-60B Seahawk

H-60

S-70
A VH-60 flies over the Potomac
S-70C Firehawk at Fox Field, California

The company name for the H-60/S-70 family is the S-70 Black Hawk.

  • S-70A Black Hawk (UH-60 Black Hawk): Military model for the export market.
  • S-70A Firehawk Firefighting variant of the UH-60L. Tank system designed and built by Aero Union in Chico, California.
  • S-70A (N) Naval Hawk Maritime variant that blends the S-70A Black Hawk and S-70B Seahawk designs.
  • S-70B/C Seahawk: Maritime military model for the export market.
  • S-70A-9: Australian derivative Black Hawk
  • S-70C Firehawk: Civilian water-bomber variant
  • S-70i Black Hawk: International military version assembled by Sikorsky subsidiary, PZL Mielec in Poland.[7][8]
  • Turkish Aerospace Industries T70: A Turkish variant of the S-70i, built under license by Turkish Aerospace Industries with indigenous Turkish mission-computer and avionics (by Aselsan); flight controls, landing gear and transmission (by Alp Aviation); and T700-TEI-701D engines under license from General Electric (by Tusaş Engine Industries).[9][10] Turkey was to initially produce about 109 T70s under license. US Ambassador to Turkey Frank Ricciardone stated that Turkey now intends to produce some 600 T70s.[11]

Derivatives
  • Sikorsky S-71 - a proposed attack helicopter using dynamic components from the S-70.[12][13][14]
  • Sikorsky S-92 - Civilian medium-lift derivative of the S-70/H-60 with dynamic components based on S-70/H-60 components.[15] The S-92 took its maiden flight on December 23, 1998 at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center, West Palm Beach, Florida.[16]
  • H-92 Superhawk - Military version of the S-92. The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is the H-92 version for the Canadian Armed Forces.

Civilian operators
For the military models operators, see Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. For naval model operators, see Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk.
 Argentina
 Taiwan (Republic of China)
 Colombia
  • Colombian National Police[19]
 Mexico
 Poland
 Saudi Arabia
 Turkey
  • General Directorate of Security[24]
 United States

Former operators
 Hong Kong
  • Government Flying Service[30]

Specifications (S-70i)

Data from Sikorsky[31]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: 14-17 seats/12 troops/6 stretchers
  • Payload: 9,000 lb (4,072 kg) externally slung
  • Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.76 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
  • Height: 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
  • Empty weight: 11,790 lb (5,347 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 22,000 lb (9,979 kg)
  • Fuel, internal: 360 US gal (1,360 L)
  • Auxiliary Fuel: 2x 185 US gal (700 L) tanks internally, 450 US gal (1,705 L) tank on each inboard pylon and 230 US gal (872 L) tank on each outboard pylon, or 450 US gal (1,705 L) tank on each pylon
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701D turboshaft, 1,940 shp (1,409 kW) at 0.462 Specific fuel consumption[32] each

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: M240, MAG-58, M3M, GAU-19
  • Rockets: Hydra
  • Missiles: Hellfire (x16)

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. "Sikorsky". www.sikorsky.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  2. Bishop, Chris (2008). Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. Osprey Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-84176-852-6.
  3. Tomajczyk 2003, pp. 15–29.
  4. "SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter". navy.mil. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  5. Infodefensa.com (9 March 2015). "El Sikorsky AH-60L Arpía IV de la Fuerza Aérea colombiana: ¿Pasos hacia la disuasión efectiva? - Opinión Infodefensa América". Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  6. "Fuerza Aérea Colombiana presenta el AH-60L Arpía IV". www.webinfomil.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-04. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  7. "Sikorsky breathes new life into PZL Mielec" Archived 2010-06-11 at the Wayback Machine. Flight International, June 8, 2010.
  8. "First S-70i Helicopter Fully Assembled at Sikorsky Facility in Poland" Archived 2011-01-10 at the Wayback Machine. Sikorsky, March 15, 2010.
  9. "Sikorsky wins Turkish utility helicopter battle". FlightGlobal.com. 2011-04-21. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  10. "News". OnlineAMD.com. 2011-04-25. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  11. "Can Turkey Afford Its Extensive Defense Plans?". DefenseNews.com. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  12. "American airplanes: Sikorsky". Aerofiles.com. 2009-04-26. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  13. Sikorsky Helicopters Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine - Helis.com
  14. "S-71 image". deviantart.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  15. Donald, David, ed. "Sikorsky S-92". The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Barnes & Nobel Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
  16. Frawley, Gerald. "Sikorsky S-92". The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003. Aerospace Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
  17. "World Air Forces 2004". Flightglobal Insight. 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  18. "Presidential Sikorsky S-70A-30". Demand media. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  19. "Colombia requests nine more Black Hawks for counter-narcotics fight". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  20. "Mexican Police Receive UH-60M Black Hawks". Air International. Vol. 80 no. 3. March 2011. p. 28. ISSN 0306-5634.
  21. "Mexican State of Jalisco takes delivery of S-70i". helihub.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  22. "Third Black Hawk for the Polish National Police". Archived from the original on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
  23. "Black Hawki z Mielca w Arabii Saudyjskiej". altair.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  24. "Sayfalar - Bell 429 Album". Havacilik.pol.tr. Archived from the original on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  25. "L.A. County Fire Air Operations". lacounty.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  26. "Black Hawk Made: A Peek Inside the Sikorsky Factory". wired.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  27. "CPB S-70". Demand media. Archived from the original on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  28. "SDFD Debuts New Firehawk Helicopter". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  29. "CAL FIRE Places Purchase Order for FIREHAWK® Aircraft". Media - Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  30. "Hong Kong Government Flying Service S-70". Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  31. S70-061_IBH_SS.pdf sikorsky.com
  32. "General Electric T700C" Archived 2010-03-12 at the Wayback Machine.

Bibliography
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