Air Force

Sale to Slovakia

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Slovakia for UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $450 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on February 18, 2015.

A UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter sits on the flight line of Hunter Army Airfield June 10, where 3rd Combat Aviation pilots are training on the newly-fielded equipment
A UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter sits on the flight line of Hunter Army Airfield June 10, where 3rd Combat Aviation pilots are training on the newly-fielded equipment

The Government of Slovakia has requested a possible sale of:

  • 9 UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters in standard U.S. Government configuration with designated unique equipment and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE);
  • 20 T700-GE-701D Engines (18 installed and 2 spares);
  • 20 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems;
  • 2 Aviation Mission Planning Systems;
  • 1 Aviation Ground Power Unit;
  • 11 AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe Transponders;
  • 20 Very High Frequency (VHF)/Digitally Selective Calling AN/ARC-231 radios;
  • 11 ARN-147 VHF Omni Ranging/Instrument Landing System (VOR/ILS);
  • 11 AN/ARN-153 Tactical Air Navigation Systems;
  • 11 AN/ARC-201D Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems radios.

Also included are aircraft warranty, ammunition, air worthiness support, facility construction, spare and repair parts, support equipment, communication equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, tool and test equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related element of program and logistics support. The estimated cost is $450 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally.

General Characteristics
General Characteristics

The proposed sale will improve Slovakia’s capability to deter regional threats and strengthen its homeland defense, as well as support counter-terrorism operations. The sale of these UH-60 helicopters will bolster Slovakia’s ability to provide border patrol, rapid reaction, and field expedient firefighting capability for its air and ground forces in counter-terrorism, border security, and humanitarian operations. Slovakia will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be the Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford, Connecticut; and General Electric Aircraft Company in Lynn, Massachusetts. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of an additional three U.S. Government and five contractor representatives in Slovakia to support the delivery and training for approximately two-five years.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

The crew of a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter from 2nd Battalion (Assault), 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon, wait as a petroleum supply specialist assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion (Assault), 10th Combat Aviation Brigade refuels their helicopter Aug. 20, at forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan
The crew of a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter from 2nd Battalion (Assault), 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon, wait as a petroleum supply specialist assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion (Assault), 10th Combat Aviation Brigade refuels their helicopter Aug. 20, at forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan

 

UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopter

The UH-60M helicopter culminates more than 30 years of technological advancement, improved performance and real world experience. This advanced Black Hawk aircraft serves dependably in the most extreme conditions found on earth. With the integration of the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems and automated aircraft health monitoring, the UH-60M provides superior vertical lift and is the «intelligent» choice for the battlefield of tomorrow.

 

General Characteristics

Primary Function:   Personnel recovery in hostile conditions and military operations other than war in day, night or marginal weather

Contractor:                 United Technologies/Sikorsky Aircraft Company

Length:                           64 feet 8 in/17.1 m

Height:                           16 feet 8 in/4.4 m

Rotor Diameter:       53 feet 7 in/14.1 m

Fuel Capacity:            4,500 pounds/2,041 kg

Payload:                         depends upon mission

Armament:                   Two 7.62-mm or .50 caliber machineguns

Crew:                               2 pilots, 1 flight engineer and 1 gunner

Initial operating capability:                            1982

Unit Cost:                      $40.1 million

Inventory:                     Active force, 67; ANG, 17; Reserve, 15

 

Powerplant and fuel system

Number of Engines:                                  2

Engine Type:                                                 T700-GE-701D

Maximum Take Off:                                 3,988 shp/2,974 kW

OEI Shaft horsepower (30 sec):        1,940 shp/1,447 kW

 

Capabilities

Crew @ total weight:                               4 @ 980 lbs/444.5 kg

Troops @ weight/each:                          11 @ 290 lbs/131.5 kg

Cargo hook capacity:                              9,000 lbs/4082 kg

UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters await their turn to takeoff from Simmons Army Airfield, Sept. 17, for the final evaluation flight certifying 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade pilots to fly the aircraft
UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters await their turn to takeoff from Simmons Army Airfield, Sept. 17, for the final evaluation flight certifying 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade pilots to fly the aircraft

 

Performance

Weight empty:                                            12,511 lbs/5,675 kg

Primary mission gross weight:          19,398 lbs/8,799 kg

Maximum Gross Weight:                     22,000 lbs/9,979 kg

Maximum Cruise Speed*:                    151 knots/174 mph/280 km/h

Maximum Range – No Reserve:      276 NM/317.5 miles/511 km

Vertical Rate of Climb, feet per minute

16,800 lbs/7,620 kg, 4000 feet/1,219 m, 95°F, 95% IRP**:                       1,553

18,000 lbs/8,165 kg, 4000 feet/1,219 m, 95°F, 95% IRP**:                       941

HIGE*** Ceiling:                                        10,520 feet/3,206 m

HOGE**** Ceiling:                                    6,010 feet/1,831 m

OEI***** Service Ceiling:                      6,500 feet/1,981 m

AEO****** Service Ceiling:                  15,180 feet/4,626 m

* 16,800 lbs/7,620 kg, 4,000 feet/1,219 m, 95°F @ 100% MCP (Mode Control Panel)

** Intermediate Rated Power

*** Hovering In Ground Effect

**** Hovering Out of Ground Effect

***** One Engine Inoperative

****** All Engines Operating

 

Accommodations

Cabin Length:                                               12.6 feet/3.8 m

Cabin Width:                                                 7.7 feet/2.3 m

Cabin Height:                                                4.5 feet/1.3 m

Cabin Area:                                                    88 feet2/8.1 m2

Cabin Volume:                                              396 feet3/11.2 m3

Baggage Volume:                                        20 feet3/0.5 m3

A UH-60 Black Hawk assists in airborne operations on June 22, 2014, near Adazi Training Area. Approximately 600 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade have been deployed to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia to conduct expanded land force training by demonstrating their commitment to NATO objectives of sustaining interoperability between allied forces (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Sara Marchus, 116 Public Affairs Detachment/ Released)
A UH-60 Black Hawk assists in airborne operations on June 22, 2014, near Adazi Training Area. Approximately 600 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade have been deployed to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia to conduct expanded land force training by demonstrating their commitment to NATO objectives of sustaining interoperability between allied forces (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Sara Marchus, 116 Public Affairs Detachment/ Released)

 

Airframe

  • Machined cabin structure
  • Multi-functional and durable 300 psi cabin flooring
  • Crashworthy Pilot and co-Pilot seats
  • Two sliding cargo doors with pop-out egress windows
  • Two jettisonable cockpit doors
  • Three point dual OLEO landing gear with kneeling capability
  • Active vibration control system
  • Wire strike protection system
  • Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS)
  • Foldable tail pylon for shipping and storage
  • Built-in work platforms, engine cowlings and hydraulic deck
  • Foldable stabilator

 

Cockpit

  • Four-axis fully coupled flight director
  • Digital map
  • Dual embedded global positioning
  • Integrated stormscope
  • Two UHF/VHF AM/FM radios
  • Five digital ICS stations
  • Automatic direction finder
  • VOR/ILS (VHF Omni Ranging/Instrument Landing System)
  • Dual digital flight control computer
Cockpit
Cockpit

 

Powerplant and fuel system

  • Two T700-GE701D engines
  • Auxiliary power unit
  • Dual crashworthy and self-sealing fuel tanks, 360 gallons/1362.75 L
  • Left and right gravity refuel ports
  • Single point for close circuit and pressure refueling

 

Rotor and drive system

  • Improved durability gearbox
  • Four wide-chord composite blades
  • Foldable main and tail rotor blades
  • Dual redundant and isolated flight controls
  • Rotor de-icing provisions

 

Electrical

  • Retractable landing light
  • Controllable searchlight
  • NVG (Night Vision) compatible formation lights
  • Portable maintenance light with three receptacles
U.S. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, take off in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, waving to family and friends, at Camp Swift, Texas, Sept. 7, 2013. The exercise was part of the unit's family day and the unit's participation in the Paratrooper and Special Olympics event (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Giles/Released)
U.S. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, take off in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, waving to family and friends, at Camp Swift, Texas, Sept. 7, 2013. The exercise was part of the unit’s family day and the unit’s participation in the Paratrooper and Special Olympics event (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Giles/Released)