The UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters manufactured by Sikorsky are the workhorse of United States Army aviation. More than 2,000 aircraft are currently in service, with deliveries having begun in 2006.
The Americans are seeking companies capable of conducting structural inspections and modernization of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters / Photo: U.S. Army
According to information published in the RFI, the Department of Defense is seeking a commercial helicopter inspection line capable of processing up to 24 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters per year. In addition, the potential contractor must ensure long-term workload stability over many years, reflecting the size of the fleet and operational requirements. For the winning bidder, a multi-year contract would guarantee work for decades. In addition to the UH-60M Black Hawks operated by the U.S. Army, these helicopters are also used by other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as various federal agencies.
There are several companies on the U.S. market specializing in the maintenance, inspection, and modernization of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. This is linked to the growing number of older UH-60A/L aircraft which, after being withdrawn from service, are entering the secondary market.
Ultimately, the planned successor to the UH-60M Black Hawk is the Bell MV-75 tiltrotor aircraft; however, it cannot be ruled out that both platforms will be operated in parallel due to the acquisition and operating costs of Bell Textron’s design. It is also worth noting that the Department of Defense is negotiating a new multi-year contract with Sikorsky that would extend the operation of the production line at least until 2035.
