In 1972, the United States Army launched the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition to find a successor to the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. Sikorsky Aircraft responded with the YUH-60A prototype, which featured a four-blade rotor and twin engines. After a head-to-head competition with Boeing Vertol's YUH-61, the Army selected Sikorsky's design in 1976. The new helicopter was named after the Sauk leader Black Hawk and entered service in 1979 as the UH-60A, taking over the tactical transport role once held by the Huey. From the beginning, the Black Hawk was designed with survivability and adaptability in mind. Its low, streamlined fuselage was built to fit into a C-130 Hercules for transport, with some disassembly. Equipped with two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines and a fully articulated four-blade rotor system, the Black Hawk could carry 11 equipped soldiers, lift 2,600 pounds of cargo internally, or sling up to 9,000 pounds externally. The design allowed it to reposition artillery pieces such as the 105 mm M119 howitzer with ammunition and crew, making it vital for air assault operations. The helicopter soon evolved beyond a troop carrier. Variants appeared for electronic warfare, medical evacuation, and special operations. The U.S. Navy adapted the design into the SH-60 Seahawk, the Air Force created the HH-60 Pave Hawk for combat search and rescue, and the Coast Guard developed the MH-60 Jayhawk for maritime missions. A civilian version, the S-70, was also produced. Outside the U.S., Japan built its own version, the Mitsubishi H-60, under license. One of the Black Hawk's most notable features was its External Stores Support System (ESSS), introduced in 1986. Mounted stub wings allowed the helicopter to carry extra fuel tanks or up to 10,000 pounds of weapons such as rockets and missiles. However, four fuel tanks blocked the door gunners' field of fire, so the External Tank System (ETS) with two tanks was later introduced. Over time, the Army modified its helicopters with crashworthy external fuel systems, self-sealing lines, and improved safety measures. The UH-60 series also became a platform for VIP transport. A modified version, the VH-60N, was assigned to carry senior government officials, including the President of the United States, under the call sign Marine One. With advanced avionics, global positioning systems, and crash-resistant features, the Black Hawk family became one of the most versatile helicopter lines in U.S. service. By the 1990s and 2000s, upgraded versions such as the UH-60L and UH-60M added stronger engines, modernized electronics, and improved lift capacity, further extending the helicopter's role in both combat and support operations. Unit costs for the Black Hawk varied by role and configuration. An Army UH-60L cost around $5.9 million, while specialized models such as the Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk could exceed $10 million. Despite these differences, the Black Hawk established itself as a central workhorse of American aviation, serving across branches of the military and with numerous allies worldwide, cementing its place as the direct successor to the Huey.

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UH-60 Black Hawk