UH-60M BlackHawk

The UH-60M is an upgraded derivative of combat-proven UH-60 helicopter. The US Army plans to modernize up to 1,200 existing UH-60 helicopters to the M configuration within the next 20 years. As of June 2005, the total cost of Black Hawk upgrade was estimated at $20.8 billion. There are no plans for an eventual replacement of UH-60 helicopters through 2025. The UH-60M will feature improved payload, new digital cockpit displays, a strengthened fuselage, new composite spar wide-chord blades which provide 227 kg (500 lb) more lift than the UH-60L blade, and more powerful engines (T700-GE-701D). The M helicopters will also feature lower maintenance costs than the current fleet. The new UH-60M helicopter could be available as production standard beginning in 2007. The UH-60M development program consists of a UH-60A, five UH-60L helicopters, a UH-60Q Medevac model and a new production UH-60M totaling eight airframes. The low rate initial production UH-60M is expected to begin in 2005 with up to 90 existing UH-60s inducted per year by 2012. The US Army may purchase 300 new production UH-60Ms in addition to the 1,200 UH-60A/Ls intended for upgrade. The Pentagon's Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) authorized 31-Mar-2005 the Army's UH-60M program to proceed with Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of 22 new-built aircraft and up to 40 aircraft until fiscal year 2006. This decision also authorized the first lot of full rate production UH-60Ms.

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