The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky a $234.46-million contract modification for the procurement of 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
Under the fixed-price-incentive, undefinitized modification, the total cumulative face value of the contract rises to $356.25 million. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2028.
Because the award is undefinitized, its value and quantities could change as negotiations continue. The arrangement allows production to begin while negotiations are finalized.
The move helps sustain Black Hawk production as Sikorsky transitions from its current multiyear deal to a future procurement agreement. The company’s 10th multiyear Black Hawk contract, awarded under a $2.3-billion agreement signed with the US Army in 2022, is set to conclude by the end of 2027.
Sikorsky plans to begin delivering the 16 aircraft after the current multiyear deal ends, Sikorsky Vice President and General Manager Rich Benton told reporters ahead of the army’s announcement, according to Breaking Defense.
“The next agreement will not only continue the active production line we have today, but it’s also going to set the infrastructure and the foundation for the Black Hawk that’s going to come,” Benton said.
“Our focus has always been to provide the most effective and capable Black Hawk to our customers when they need it to execute the missions they need, and the contract structure we have come to an agreement [with] the Army is absolutely going to deliver this.”
Black Hawk UH-60M
The Black Hawk is one of the US Army’s most widely used helicopters and is often described as the backbone of its rotary-wing fleet.
The latest UH-60M variant features more powerful main rotor blades that provide 500 pounds (226 kilograms) of additional lift over its predecessor, along with an improved fuselage, infrared suppression, and an integrated vehicle health management system.
With a gross weight of 9,979 kilograms (22,000 pounds), the helicopter can carry up to 12 personnel and offers increased payload and range, advanced digital avionics, improved survivability, and enhanced situational awareness. It can also be fitted with two 7.62-millimeter machine guns.
According to Lockheed Martin, the Black Hawk can be reconfigured for missions including medical evacuation, command and control, search and rescue, and electronic warfare.