Last Friday, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a military aviation subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, announced it delivered a UH-60M Black Hawk to the U.S. Army. This is the 5,000th 'Hawk' family helicopter that the company has built, coinciding with the year it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
5000 Hawks and counting.
From maritime to multi-mission, combat rescue to firefighting, our customers worldwide can depend on the ever-evolving Black Hawk platform to meet their ever-changing mission needs. #Sikorsky100 pic.twitter.com/ur3fUrevi5
— Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) January 20, 2023
The U.S. Army is the largest operator of these helicopter models in the world. Paul Lemmo, president of Sikorsky, highlighted the importance of Black Hawk to his company and the features they offer their customers:
Sikorsky, as a company, has been forged by the Black Hawk. The Black Hawk and its variants deliver when reliability and performance are nonnegotiable. Hawk aircraft continue to demonstrate their versatility and readiness with the latest technological advancements and ongoing U.S. and global investment in the aircraft.
Col. Calvin Lane, public service helicopter project manager for the Aviation Program Executive Office, said:
For more than 40 years the Black Hawk has remarkably supported Soldiers in every major contingency operation the Army has executed. Even though the helicopter has been around longer than most of the Soldiers it now supports, the Army plans for it to be in front line service another 40 years and beyond. And everyone who contributes to the delivery of this aircraft in any way, contributes directly to providing combat capability that protects Soldiers and helps the Army accomplish its mission.
Australia acquires 40 UH-60M Black Hawk
Apart from supplying a UH-60M Black Hawk to the U.S. Army, Sikorsky reported the sale of 40 models to the Australian Defence Force. The Canberra (Australia) government will replace its fleet of MRH90 Taipan helicopters.
Australian Army Major General Jeremy King said this renovation will be a major step forward for military and human missions:
The Black Hawk capability will be a crucial element in protecting Australia's sovereignty and meeting foreign policy objectives, including the provision of humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The Black Hawk will support the deployment of our troops and their equipment wherever they are needed in times of crisis, as it is a reliable, proven and mature platform supported by a strong global supply chain.
