Offering some attack capability to the utility helicopter, the Armed Black Hawk is basically a kit that can be strapped on existing operational or fresh production units.
Sikorsky has released a video of the UH-60 Armed Black Hawk, undergoing weapons-firing and validation drills at Yuma in Arizona, with the highlight being the chopper firing an AGM-114 Hellfire missile. Also carrying two-types of fixed forward-facing Gatling guns, the helicopter is shown engaging a variety of ground targets with the onboard weapons in the video.
The version has been rarely spotted since it was introduced and the video gives an interesting glimpse into the heavy strike capabilities that an upgunned Black Hawk can bring down to bear. Introduced to provide some of the attack helicopter capability to the widely-used utility helicopter, the Armed Black Hawk is basically a kit that can be strapped on existing Black Hawks or fresh production units.
The UH-60 Armed Black Hawk was developed by the UAE’s Abu Dhabi-based AMMROC (Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) and unveiled for the first time during an event on Jan. 22, 2019. Janes quoted Emirati reports saying that six Black Hawks have been modified for the purpose.
UH-60 Armed Black Hawk’s weapons
As explained, the UH-60M Armed Black Hawk is essentially a kit that heavily weaponizes the helicopter. On large, outboard wing stubs, it carries rockets, guided air-to-ground missiles and two-types of rotary Gatling guns, all of which are integrated with its flight control system and avionics.
The outermost hardpoint on the right wing has a quad-rack carrying four AGM-114 Hellfire laser-guided missiles while the corresponding station on the left stub has a rocket pod carrying the unguided 70 mm Hydra rockets. The middle station on both stubs has fixed, forward-facing triple-barrel GAU-19 .50 caliber Gatling-guns. Lastly, there are also two fixed M-134 Miniguns mounted on arms fixed inside the cabin.
A video released by Sikorsky in Nov. 2019 also saw the Armed Black Hawk firing the Hellfire, in what was a live-fire test. It was also shown firing one of its GAU-19 guns and Hydra rockets on ground targets, that ranged from built-up structures, AD vehicles, IFVs. It also fires the fixed forward-facing Miniguns. However, this video was also interspersed with computer generated renditions and illustrations of the Armed Black Hawk, while the latest video shows what appears to be a full weapons systems compatibility and qualification trials at the range.
As the video shows, the ammunition belt feeders for both the types of rotary guns are connected to rectangular box magazines stacked one above the other in two rows, inside the cabin just behind the pilot seats. For sighting, the helicopter has a chin-mounted EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infrared) turret, possibly cued to a helmet-mounted sighting system sight and aiming system being sported by the pilot. The EO system also has a laser designator for the Hellfire.
It can be used in roles like suppressive fire, anti-armor missions, surveillance, armed reconnaissance, armed escort and air assault. Largely, the mission sets are more geared towards special operations roles to insert and extract operators, who might be flown in other rotary wing platforms like the Chinook or the V-22 Osprey. Or it can simply carry eleven troops itself for the purpose.
‘Attack helicopter capability for the utility chopper’
Sikorsky says the version can be bought outright as a new production aircraft or the customer can purchase the kit to be retrofitted on post-production units that are already operational. In the previous video four years ago mentioned earlier, Sikorsky said the idea behind the Armed Black Hawk was to have weaponized, diverse munitions on rotary-wing utility helicopters that are also “used for day-to-day missions,” unlike dedicated “attack helicopters.”
“The weapon system brings a cost-effective attack capability to third generation Black Hawk aircraft while fully retaining the platform’s multi-role utility. Ground crews can add or remove external wings and weapons of choice in three hours,” Lockheed Martin, which owns Sikorsky, says.
As Joe Palumbo told Defense News on the sidelines of the unveiling at Abu Dhabi, AMROC is the prime contractor for the Armed Black, with Sikorsky providing the weapons kits and AMROC assembling it. “(They also) perform all the test plans and procedures. (Sikorsky provided) all the drawings and instructions to assemble it.”
Another helicopter gunship that is purpose-built for both heavy strike and troop transport roles is the Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind.
Still used by several operators all around the world, many advanced variants and upgrades offered by Russian Helicopters in exhibitions have a wide array of weapons. Russian Mi-17s and Mi-8s medium-tactical transport helicopters can also be armed with rocket pods, which were also seen in the early days of Russian war in Ukraine in February 2022.
Parth Satam’s career spans a decade and a half between two dailies and two defense publications. He believes war, as a human activity, has causes and results that go far beyond which missile and jet flies the fastest. He therefore loves analyzing military affairs at their intersection with foreign policy, economics, technology, society and history. The body of his work spans the entire breadth from defense aerospace, tactics, military doctrine and theory, personnel issues, West Asian, Eurasian affairs, the energy sector and Space.
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