Sikorsky wins new order from Taiwan for 24 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters

Posted On
a
World Aviation Defense & Security News - Taiwan
 
 
Sikorsky wins new order from Taiwan for 24 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters
 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, has been awarded a $135,400,000 modification to a previous foreign military sales contract for 24 UH-60M uniquely configured Black Hawk tactical transport helicopters, the US DoD announced yesterday August 31 on its website.
     
Sikorsky win a 135mn order from Taiwan for 24 UH 60M Black Hawk helicopters 640 001 A ROCA UH-60M Black Hawk tactical transport helicopter
(Credit: ROCA)
     
"Production will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 8, 2018. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity," the US DoD released.

In January 2010, Taiwan issued a request valued at $3.1bn for 60 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters through the US Foreign Military Sales program. "This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8. The U.S. is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act," said then the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The first batch comprising four helicopters was delivered to Taiwan in December 2014.

The Taiwanese Army said the helicopters will be shipped to Taiwan in ten batches, with the last set of three Black Hawks to be handed over in 2019.

The UH-60 Black Hawk has been operational in the US Army since 1978, and variants of the Black Hawk are now operational or have been ordered by 25 international customers. The production began in 2006 and the UH-60M upgrade completed its maiden flight in August 2008. More than 950 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by 2025.

The M variant features Improved design wide chord rotor blades, T700-GE-701D engines (max 2,000 shp or 1,500 kW each), improved durability gearbox, Integrated Vehicle Management Systems (IVHMS) computer, and new glass cockpit. The production began in 2006.