Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has received a $43 million contract from the U.S. Army to support the modernization of the Black Hawk helicopter fleet.
The award will fund engineering work on structural improvements and the integration of a digital backbone designed to enable rapid incorporation of new technologies, including unmanned aerial systems. The program also involves developing requirements and architecture through model-based systems engineering.
Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky, said:
“Sikorsky is ready to implement new technologies that will strengthen the combat-proven Black Hawk helicopter and give U.S. Army soldiers greater advantage in areas like the Indo-Pacific. Integrating launched effects into the Black Hawk will enhance its capabilities and provide a significant advantage. Modernization is reducing costs, increasing efficiency and improving the overall maintenance and sustainment for the aircraft.”
The Army has identified near-term priorities for the helicopter, including the integration of “launched effects” allowing the Black Hawk to deploy unmanned systems and other payloads to expand operational roles. Lockheed Martin has been testing these capabilities for several years and is targeting a federated system for delivery in 2026.
The modernization work will also establish a digital thread for the aircraft, improving collaboration in design, testing and sustainment. The digital backbone, aligned with a Modular Open System Approach, is expected to allow faster upgrades to meet future mission demands.
In addition to structural and fuel system improvements, future plans include upgrades to flight controls with autonomy and artificial intelligence features to support pilots in challenging conditions. These enhancements aim to increase payload capacity, extend range, and improve overall mission effectiveness.
Salim added:
“Together with our team of hundreds of American suppliers, we are committed to delivering the most advanced and capable modernized Black Hawk to the U.S. Army. We look forward to continuing our work with the Army to ensure that the Black Hawk remains a vital component of our nation's defense capabilities for years to come.”
Sikorsky is also introducing incremental improvements already in production, such as the upturned exhaust systems II kits. These provide infrared suppression, reduce weight, and improve reliability and maintainability, benefiting both current and future Black Hawk variants.
