Delivers 30th Helo To 4-101 Assault Battalion

On Wednesday, Sikorsky delivered the 30th UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter to the US Army for the 4-101 Assault Battalion, making it the First Unit Equipped (FUE) with the aircraft.

The new aircraft provide the Army with many enhancements critical to supporting its missions. These enhancements include a new fully digitized cockpit with four multi-function displays, a four-axis fully coupled flight director, digital map, dual embedded global positioning/inertial navigation system, and an integrated vehicle health management system (IVHMS).

The model also features wide chord composite blades and an increased shaft horsepower performance engine.

"Our employees showed tremendous determination and teamwork to produce these aircraft and get them to the field on time," said Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino. "The new program required a major ramp-up and a necessary learning curve, but we were united in our commitment that we were not going to let our soldiers down." 

"What has been accomplished over the past seven months is nothing short of phenomenal," said Lt. Col. Bert Vergez, Army UH-60M Helicopter Product Manager, upon receiving the final FUE aircraft. "Thanks to Sikorsky, the 4-101 Assault Battalion will have aircraft to carry them through to victory. In all my 22 years of active service, I have never been more proud of America's citizen soldiers -- the Sikorsky team is truly above the best."

The UH-60M helicopter is slated to replace older Black Hawk helicopters currently in the US Army’s fleet and represents the Army’s third standard baseline Black Hawk version in the 30-year production history of the program. In December 2007, the US government and Sikorsky Aircraft signed a five-year, multi-service contract for 537 H-60 Hawk helicopters to be delivered to the US Army and US Navy.

In addition to the UH-60M helicopters, the contract involves HH-60M Medevac, MH-60S Seahawk and MH-60R Seahawk aircraft. The contract value for expected deliveries is approximately $7.4 billion and includes options for an additional 263 aircraft, spares, and kits, with the total contract value potentially reaching $11.6 billion. Pentagon acquisition priorities and funding allocations set by Congress will determine actual production quantities year by year over the life of the program.

Deliveries are scheduled to take place from 2007 to 2012.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com