Which of these Black Hawk helicopters is your favorite?

24/7 Wall St. Perspectives

• We used data from a military helicopter catalog from the Military Factory, an online database of weapons, vehicles and aircraft used by militaries around the world.
• A variant that is heavily used by the US Navy is the SH-60 Seahawk. It is a multi-mission maritime helicopter.
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Sikorsky Aircraft introduced the UH-60 Black Hawk in 1979 and it will continue to be used by the US military and 34 other countries around the world. It is capable of moving 11 combat troops or a combination of supplies and troops. The helicopter is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics to increase survivability and capability, enabling it to become the world’s most popular and prolific military helicopter. Playing a variety of roles in search and rescue, reconnaissance, transport and close air support allowed it to easily become a staple in the arsenal of many armies.

Black Hawk helicopters are typically equipped with an array of machine guns and are also capable of carrying Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles. However, these helicopters are quite versatile and can be equipped in several ways depending on the mission. Special forces equipment also has different armaments for their operational needs.

To identify the different variants of Black Hawk helicopters, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of military helicopters from the Military Factory, an online database of weapons, vehicles and aircraft used by militaries around the world. We ordered these helicopters chronologically and included additional information from the Military Factory regarding helicopter type, year introduced, manufacturer, top speed and armament.

A variant that is heavily used by the US Navy is the SH-60 Seahawk. It is a multi-mission maritime helicopter. This helicopter is mainly used for anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue missions. Its roles also extend to anti-surface warfare, surveillance and logistics. The Seahawk is equipped with torpedoes, depth charges and anti-ship missiles to deal with a variety of threats. The Seahawk, like many other helicopters on this list, is an adaptation of the US Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and has been exported to several countries, proving to be an effective component in military operations around the world.

Why are we covering this?

The Black Hawk helicopter is a critical asset in modern military operations, developed by Sikorsky Aircraft. Since its introduction in the 1970s, it has become renowned for its versatility and reliability in various environments. The helicopter’s design and ability to carry a significant payload make it a backbone of tactical support, enhancing the operational effectiveness of military forces globally.

Here’s a look at the different variants of Black Hawk helicopters.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

• Type: Medium-lift, multi-mission helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1979
• Manufacturer(s): Turkish Aerospace Industries / PZL / Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns, Hellfire Anti-Tank Missiles, 12.7mm GAU-19 Gatling Guns, M240 Machine Guns, Mine Dispersal Systems, FFAR Missile Pods

Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

• Type: Multi-mission naval helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1984
• Manufacturer(s): Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 205 mph
• Armament: M240 General Purpose Machine Guns, GAU-17/A Miniguns, 7.62mm Machine Guns, Hellfire Anti-Tank Missiles, Block III Missiles, Mark 46 Torpedoes, Mark 54 Torpedoes, Penguin Anti-Ship Missiles, Mk 44 RAMICS Mine Gun 30 MM

Sikorsky VH-60 White Hawk

• Type: Presidential / VIP transport helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1988
• Manufacturer(s): United Technologies / Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 183 mph
• Armament: N/A

Sikorsky HH-60 / MH-60T Jayhawk

• Type: Medium range search and rescue/interdiction helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1990
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 207 mph
• Armament: M240B 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun

Sikorsky MH-60L DAP (Direct Action Penetrator)

• Type: Special forces military helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1990
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 103 mph
• Armament: Autocannons for M230 30mm Chain Cannons, Hydra Missiles, GAU-19 Cannons, M134 Cannons, Hellfire Anti-Tank Missiles, Stinger Air-to-Air Missiles

Sikorsky MH-60L / UH-60L (Razors Edge / Super 68)

• Type: special forces combat helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1990
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 103 mph
• Armament: 30mm Autocannon, FFAR Missile Pods, M134 Miniguns, Hellfire Anti-Tank Missiles, Stinger Air-to-Air Missiles

Sikorsky HH-60 (Pave Hawk)

• Type: Combat search and rescue
• Year of introduction: 1991
• Manufacturer(s): United Technologies / Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, M134 miniguns, 12.7mm GAU-18 miniguns

Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk)

• Type: Multi-mission naval helicopter
• Year of introduction: 2002
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 207 mph
• Armament: M240 7.62mm Machine Guns, GAU-17/A Miniguns, Hellfire Anti-Tank Missiles, Penguin Anti-Ship Missiles, Autocannons, Machine Guns

Piasecki X-49 Speedhawk

• Type: Composite helicopter
• Year of introduction: 2007
• Manufacturer(s): Piasecki Aircraft Corporation / Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 168 mph
• Armament: N/A

Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk)

• Type: Special mission helicopter
• Year of introduction: 2008
• Manufacturer(s): United Rotorcraft / Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 224 mph
• Armament: N/A

Sikorsky (Lockheed) Black Hawk armed

• Type: Helicopter upgrade pack
• Year of introduction: 2017
• Manufacturer(s): Lockheed Martin / Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 186 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns, miniguns, Hydra missiles, Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles

Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II (Whiskey)

• Type: Dedicated combat rescue helicopter
• Year of introduction: 2022
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Maximum speed: 224 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine guns

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