Sikorsky is pursuing sales of the Black Hawk helicopter to a number of nations and believes the aircraft is experiencing a resurgence in foreign military sales (FMS).
The Thai army is expected to add two more Black Hawks to its existing fleet during 2004 and two more next year, while the Royal Jordanian Air Force has signed a letter of offer and acceptance for eight Black Hawks configured with glass cockpits.
Goal
Sikorsky will deliver two VIP UH-60A aircraft for the Egyptian air force in the next two months.
Meanwhile, the UH-60M upgrade programme, which will see the -L model replaced with a new configuration in 2007, is continuing. Sikorsky says the test aircraft have completed 80h of development test flight in working towards a Milestone C production decision next year.
Manoeuvrable
"Our goal is full spectrum dominance," says Paul Martin, senior vice-president for government and advanced development programmes. "The UH-60M will be the most powerful, manoeuvrable and survivable Black Hawk ever built."
Sikorsky has eight aircraft in the development programme - one UH-60A, one UH-60L, a UH-60Q medevac aircraft as well as a new production UH-60M. Once these four are modernised, four more UH-60As will be converted to -M standard.
PAUL DERBY
Source: Flight Daily News