The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky an initial $43-million contract to modernize the Black Hawk medium-lift multi-role helicopter.
Sikorsky will focus on enhancing the chopper’s airframe and main fuel capabilities, as well as adding an advanced digital backbone to allow efficient integration with uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and launched effects, which are expected for fielding by 2026.
The upgraded helicopter is also intended to carry more payload at longer ranges and receive future flight control upgrades, such as autonomy and artificial intelligence.
“Sikorsky is ready to implement new technologies that will strengthen the combat-proven Black Hawk helicopter and give US Army soldiers greater advantage in areas like the Indo-Pacific,” said Hamid Salim, VP of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky.
“Modernization is reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and improving the overall maintenance and sustainment for the aircraft.”
Modernization Efforts
Prior to this contract, Sikorsky had already been making progress towards modernizing the Black Hawks.
It is producing upturned exhaust system II kits that equip the choppers with improvements in infrared suppression, weight reduction, reliability, and maintainability.
Additionally, the aircraft manufacturer was awarded a $6-million deal in October 2024 to install its MATRIX flight autonomy system on the US Army’s experimental fly-by-wire UH-60M Black Hawk by 2025.
The goal was to eventually transform it into an autonomy-enabled aircraft, reducing pilot workload, improving flight safety, and supporting battle commanders in contested environments.
For launched effects, the Black Hawk conducted the first flight test of the Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated Unmanned System (Altius) 700 air vehicle made by Anduril in 2023, validating its performance across all phases of operation.
