STRATFORD, Conn. — The U.S. Army and Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company) have finalized a Novel Production Agreement to sustain and expand the UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopter manufacturing pipeline. Structured as an Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA), the flexible agreement commits an initial $234.5 million in funding for 16 UH-60M aircraft, while establishing an agile procurement framework capable of absorbing orders for more than 100 additional Black Hawks to support emerging U.S. Army requirements and expanding Foreign Military Sales (FMS) demand.
The agreement bridges the transition from the U.S. Army’s 10th Multi-Year (MY X) contract—which concludes in late 2027—and enables long-lead component acquisition and subassembly work to proceed without production line disruption. Initial deliveries under the award are scheduled to begin in 2028. Funding is derived from FY2025/FY2026 congressional appropriations alongside recycled capital generated through the Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Transaction (BEST) program, which reinvests revenue from divested legacy airframes directly into new production. The framework protects Sikorsky’s industrial ecosystem, comprising approximately 230 suppliers across 43 states, while preserving core manufacturing capacity to sustain Black Hawk operations into the 2070s.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: SIKORSKY UH-60M BLACK HAWK UTILITY HELICOPTER
* System Classification: Twin-Engine Medium-Lift Tactical Utility & Air Assault Helicopter
* Prime Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft / Lockheed Martin (Stratford, Connecticut)
* Procurement Structure & Initial Award: Novel Production Agreement (UCA) | $234.5 Million baseline for 16 airframes (scalable to 100+ units)
* Program Delivery Schedule: Initial deliveries commencing in 2028; bridges production beyond MY X contract conclusion (late 2027)
* Airframe & Dimensional Parameters:
* Overall Length (with Rotors): 19.76 meters (64 ft 10 in)
* Fuselage Width: 2.36 meters (7 ft 9 in)
* Main Rotor Diameter: 16.36 meters (53 ft 8 in)
* Maximum Gross Weight: 9,979 kg (22,000 lbs)
* Propulsion & Powerplant Architecture:
* Engine Type: 2x General Electric T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines
* Power Output: ~2,000 shp (1,491 kW) per engine paired with an improved durability main gearbox
* Flight Performance Envelope:
* Maximum Cruise Speed: 151 knots (280 km/h / 174 mph)
* Combat Radius / Range: ~320 nautical miles (590 km) on internal fuel; expandable via External Stores Support System (ESSS) drop tanks
* Service Ceiling: 5,790 meters (19,000 feet)
* Rate of Climb: ~4.5 m/s (1,315 ft/min)
* Digital Avionics, Sensors & Modular Backbone:
* Flight Deck: Fully integrated digital glass cockpit featuring 4x active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) and dual-redundant MIL-STD-1553 databus
* Navigation & Flight Control: Dual Embedded GPS/INS (EGI), coupled 4-axis digital automatic flight control system (AFCS)
* Diagnostics & Architecture: Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS) for predictive maintenance + open digital backbone for rapid uncrewed systems (UAS) teaming integration
* Capacity & Payload Spectrum:
* Crew & Cabin Capacity: 2 pilots, 2 crew chiefs / gunners + 11 fully equipped combat troops (or 6 medical stretchers)
* Internal Cargo / Sling Load: Internal payload up to 1,450 kg (3,190 lbs) | External cargo hook capacity up to 4,080 kg (9,000 lbs)
* Defensive Armament: Mounts for 2x 7.62 mm M134 Miniguns or M240H pintle-mounted machine guns
