MH-60 Blackhawk Varients UH-60L through NVG's

The Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk Series has been in service with the US armed forces since 1979. It's twin-engined power, versatility, and strength have made it a natural for special operations missions. In fact, every US service that operates the Blackhawk has a version that is dedicated, at least in part, to the support of special operations troops. The US Army operates the MH-60K and MH-60L, the US Air Force has the MH-60G Pavehawk, and the US Navy has the HH-60H Seahawk.

ARMY MH-60s
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MH-60L Landing * MH-60L Pilot's Seat * AH-60L DAP minigun Close-up of the nose of the MH-60K MH-60K on the Ramp
* Courtesy and copyrighted Richard Marshall

The first special operations Blackhawk was the MH-60A, a standard UH-60 with many improvements. They were among the first to be equipped with the AAQ-16 FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) sensor and ALQ-144 "Disco Light" IR jammer. All the original A models also received auxiliary fuel tanks, IR suppressive exhausts, SATCOM (Satellite Communication), radar warning receivers, and M-134 7.62mm Miniguns.

In the late 1980s, a new version, called the MH-60L was introduced. It was to be the "low end" of a system; the high end being the then-unproduced MH-60K. The MH-60L was only about halfway through it's operational evaluation when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The upgrade process was accelerated and several of the MH-60L models were able to serve in Desert Shield and Storm alongside the older MH-60A models.

MH-60Ls received upgraded electronics such as a color weather radar, and the capability to carry the Hellfire missile. Kevlar ballistic armor has been added for increased crew protection. A new folding tail and stabilator were added to ease shipboard use. At least ten are slated to receive in-flight refueling probes to further increase their range. There is an armed sub-varient known as the AH-60L DAP (Defensive Armed Penetrator)

The MH-60K is the current top-of-the-line SOA medium helicopter. It was designed with much input from actual 160th pilots. The MH-60K features a fully integrated NVG compatible glass cockpit. It can carry twelve soldiers over 750 miles without refueling. A mission management system is also part of the aircraft's equipment. Electronic sensors and counter measures have also been added and improved to increase the aircraft's effectiveness and ability to survive the battlefield.
Official Sikorsky MH-60K Fact Sheet

US Navy HH-60H SeaHawk
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HH-60H Landing *HH-60H Fastroping SEALs onto a PC *HH-60H crewman firing a minigun *SEALs climbing a Caving Ladder **Left View of an HH-60H **Left Front View of an HH-60H **HH-60H IR turret *HH-60H fly by
* Images courtesy US Navy and HCS-5 Firehawks
**Images courtesy Richard Marshall
The HH-60H Seahawk is the US Navy's primary rotary-wing asset for CSAR and SPECWAR missions. It is derived from the SH-60B Seahawk ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) and lacks the specialized avionics while retaining the Seahawks nautical characteristics and protection. The HH-60H Varient is operated by two Naval Reserv Squadrons, HCS-4 and HCS-5. These squadrons run excercises and deploy world-wide to practice with US and foreign forces.

The Seahawk can carry up to eight passengers and can be armed with one or two GAU-8 minigun for protection or covering fire when inserting or extracting troops or pilots. Future improvements include the added capability to carry 2.75" FFAR (Folding-Fin Areal Rockets) or Maverick missile and a .50 cal heavy machine gun. The HH-60H is also outfitted with an Infra-Red supression system fr its exhausts and chaff/flare launchers to hopefully mislead incoming SAM's.

Official Sikorsky fact sheet

US Air Force MH-60G Pavehawks
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Pavehawk Picture Pavehawk Picture Pavehawk Picture *Pavehawk Picture *M2 .50 Cal Mount Improved Model MH-60G 3 MH-60G's
* Courtesy and copyrighted Richard Marshall
The MH-60G is the United States Air Force's medium range CSAR helicopter. Until late 1999 it was also the medium-lift Special operations helicopter, but the type was phased out as the Air Force once again begins moving to a force that loves fixed wing fighters above anything else. The aircraft still retain the avionics of the Pave Hawk however, and it is logical to expect that in time of war they would be used for both CSAR and special ops insertions. Between eight and ten soldiers can be carried in nearly all weather conditions to a range of 445 miles. This range can be increased with the use of in-flight refueling through the refueling probe mounted on the front of the aircraft.

The Pave Hawk is armed with two 7.62mm miniguns and can also be armed with two 50 caliber heavy machine guns mounted in the cargo bay doors. The ESSS (External Stores Support System) can also be carried, allowing the mounting of additinal fuel tanks, rocket pods, or hellfire missles (although they are probably never used in this capacity). The Air Force plans to transfer all MH-60G's to conventional units late in 1999 for use in the SAR/

USAF Fact sheet Sikorsky MH-60G Fact Sheet