The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is an American-made medium multi-purpose infantry support helicopter with a metal structure of a classic layout with propellers on the bearing beam and steering beam. The UH-60 D version is powered by two General Electric T-700-700 engines with a capacity of 1,560 hp. each one The flight of the first prototype took place in 1974, and serial production, which began in 1974, continues to this day. According to estimates, more than 4,000 copies of this helicopter were built by 2017.
The Sikorsky UH-60 was created in response to a tender announced by the US Army in 1972 for a new transport helicopter to replace the UH-1 Huey. The new machine had to have better characteristics, be cheaper to operate and be characterized by high survivability on the battlefield. All these criteria met the machine of the Sikorsky concern, with a special emphasis on the last of the elements listed above. In the course of serial production, many modifications of this very reliable and successful helicopter were created. The basic version received the designation UH-60A and was used mainly for transport purposes. Later, a version of the UH-60L with more powerful engines was introduced, which increased the carrying capacity of the machine. A version of the S-70 International was also created, widely offered — often successfully — to foreign customers. It is worth adding that now (2017) this version is produced at factories in Meleka. Many specialized versions were also created, such as the MH-60A, designed for US special forces. On the basis of the UH-60, the naval version of the SH-60 Seahawk was significantly changed. MH-60 helicopters took an active part in the intervention in Granada (1983), the operation in Mogadishu (1993), both wars in Iraq (1990-1991 and 2003), as well as in the operation in Afghanistan since 2001. also exported to many countries including Austria, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Israel, Japan and Turkey.
