Sikhorsky MH-60L "DAP" Blackhawk : "Stalker of the Night"

[kev2go 5,112]

This is the MH60L, the 160th SOAR "night stalkers" modification of the Standard US ARmy UH60L in a  gunship Configuration   known as DAP ( Direct Action Penetrator)    This suggestion is so US tree has a utility helicopter in Gunship Config to Succeed the Vietnam era  UH1 Hueys we have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MH60L DAP with X 4 Hardpoint configuration

 

 

 

MH60L Cockpit images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Characteristics

 

 

Crew: 2 pilots (flight crew) with 2 crew chiefs/gunners

Capacity: 2,640 lb (1,200 kg) of cargo internally, including 11 troops or 6 stretchers, or 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) (UH-60L) of cargo externally

Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.76 m)

Fuselage length: 50 ft 1 in (15.27 m)

Fuselage width: 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m))

Rotor diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)

Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)

Disc area: 2,260 ft² (210 m²)

Empty weight: 10,624 lb (4,819 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 23,500 lb (10,660 kg)

Rotational speed: Engine 20,900 RPM, main rotor 258 RPM (gear ratio 81:1)

Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft, 1,890 hp (1,410 kW) each

Performance

 

Never exceed speed: 193 knots (222 mph; 357 km/h)

Maximum speed: 159 kn (183 mph; 294 km/h)

Cruise speed: 150 kn (170 mph; 280 km/h)

Combat radius: 368 mi (320 nmi; 592 km)

Ferry range: 1,380 mi[162] (1,200 nmi; 2,220 km) with ESSS stub wings and external tanks[

Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)

Rate of climb: 1,315 ft/min[166] (4.5 m/s)

Disc loading: 7.19 lb/ft² (35.4 kg/m²)

Power/mass: 0.192 hp/lb (158 W/kg)

 

 

 

Armament

 

Guns: 

2 × 7.62 mm (0.30 in) M240 machine guns

2 × 7.62 mm (0.30 in) M134 minigun

2 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) GAU-19 gatling guns

Hardpoints: 4, 2 per ESSS stub wings  and provisions to carry combinations of:

Rockets: 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 rockets

Missiles: AGM-114 Hellfire laser guided missiles, AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles

Other: 7.62 mm (0.30 in), 12.7 mm (0.50 in), 20 mm (0.787 in), or 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 gun pods

Bombs: Can be equipped with VOLCANO minefield dispersal system.

 

 

Historical Background  

 

In the late 1960s, the United States Army began forming requirements for a helicopter to replace the UH-1 Iroquois and designated the program as the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS). The Army also initiated the development of a new, common turbine engine for its helicopters that would become the General Electric T700. Based on experience in Vietnam, the Army required significant performance, survivability and reliability improvements from both UTTAS and the new powerplant. The Army released its UTTAS request for proposals (RFP) in January 1972. The RFP also included air transport requirements. Transport aboard the C-130 limited the UTTAS cabin height and length.

 

The UTTAS requirements for improved reliability, survivability and lower life-cycle costs resulted in features such as dual-engines with improved hot and high altitude performance, and a modular design (reduced maintenance footprint); run-dry gearboxes; ballistically tolerant, redundant subsystems (hydraulic, electrical and flight controls); crashworthy crew (armored) and troop seats; dual-stage oleo main landing gear; ballistically tolerant, crashworthy main structure; quieter, more robust main and tail rotor systems; and a ballistically tolerant, crashworthy fuel system.

 

 

UH-60A Black Hawks over Port Salinas during the invasion of Grenada, 1983. The conflict saw the first use of the UH-60 in combat.

Four prototypes were constructed, with the first YUH-60A flying on 17 October 1974. Prior to delivery of the prototypes to the US Army, a preliminary evaluation was conducted in November 1975 to ensure the aircraft could be operated safely during all testing. Three of the prototypes were delivered to the Army in March 1976, for evaluation against the rival Boeing-Vertol design, the YUH-61A, and one was kept by Sikorsky for internal research. The Army selected the UH-60 for production in December 1976. Deliveries of the UH-60A to the Army began in October 1978 and the helicopter formally entered service in June 1979.

 

Due to weight increases from the addition of mission equipment and other changes, the Army ordered the improved UH-60L in 1987. The new model incorporated all of the modifications made to the UH-60A fleet as standard design features. The UH-60L also featured more power and lifting capability with upgraded T700-GE-701C engines and a stronger gearbox, both developed for the SH-60B Seahawk. Its external lift capacity increased by 1,000 lb (450 kg) up to 9,000 lb (4,100 kg). The UH-60L also incorporated the automatic flight control system (AFCS) from the SH-60 for better flight control due to handling issues with the more powerful engines. Production of the L-model began in 1989.

 

 

 

 Summary of Variant in Question

 

 

The MH-60L Black Hawk is the Army special operations aircraft variant of the UH-60L. The aircraft provides medium and utility helicopter support to special operations forces unique misions. The primary mission of the MH-60L is to conduct overt or covert infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces across a wide range of environmental conditions. Secondary missions of the MH-60L include external load, CSAR and MEDEVAC operations. The MH-60 is capable of operating from fixed base facilities, remote sites, or ocean going vessels.

 

The MH-60L features various modifications to include updated cockpit, additional avionics, precision navigation system, forward looking infrared (FLIR), aircraft survivability equipment, external tank system. Survivability equipment includes radar and missile warning systems and IR jammers. The MH-60L is powered by 2 General Electric T700-GE-701C 1,843 shaft-horsepower turboshaft engines. The MH-60L can be adapted to the attack mission by attaching dual weapons pylons to both sides of the fuselage. These pylons, mounting cannon, rockets, or missiles, can be supplemented by door or port mounting guns or launchers, limited mainly by the range, duration, cargo, or troops required to complete the mission.

 

Just prior to Operation Prime Chance in 1987, the 160th replaced the M60D machine guns on the MH-60As with M134 "Miniguns" and added 2 185-gallon internal Robertson auxiliaryfuel tanks. In 1989, the unit received UH-60L helicopters that were then modified with the CMS 80 cockpit, global positioning system, color weather radar, FRIES, and an external rescue hoist. These helicopters were designated MH-60L.

 

After 1991, the MH-60L continued to evolve. The CMS 80 cockpit was upgraded with new multifunction displays, an embedded global-positioning system and an inertial-navigation unit. In addition, advanced aircraft survivability equipment, a weapons-management system, and an aerial-refueling probe were added. 

 

 

Combat Service

 

1989 Panama, 1993 Somalia ( IE " Black hawk Down") , Yugoslavia, Various Operations in post 9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan, and many others we  probably don't know about, given the nature of this Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

 

Otherwise if Looking at the UH60 family as a whole the blackhawk has seen wide export and is in service in over 28 countries worldwide.

 

Analysis 

 

Unlike its Strictly Standard Utility counterpart the MH60L Is modified with a Glass cockpit " digital  multi function Displays" , GPS aided navigation, Weather RAdar,    and has a FLIR capable Targeting camera integrated into the aircraft for targeting of guided weapons. ( along with wide array of other new  sensors  that have no impact on war thunder)  Unlike Uh60L , MH60L is available in a proper gunship configuration Sporting 4 hardpoints on which in can carry either Miniguns, Rockets or  AGTM's. This is what matters having a modern Utility helicopter in Gunship Configuration  like the Blackhawk with with AGTM capability, Otherwise it wont be much more effective in attack capability than a Ah1G cobra.

 

 

 

 

There isn't a Declassified manual of the version specific to the night stalkers MH60L , Most information I have  substituted from the UH60A/ UH60L L/EA60A manual, which is fine given that Most Changes to the Mh60L are with regards to Avionics and weapons mounting capability, which is otherwise a direct modification of the Uh60L.

 

 

 

Primary Source

 

Operators  Manual  UH60A/UH60L/EA60A helicopters - October 1996

 

 

http://www.avialogs.com/viewer/avialogs-documentviewer.php?id=4273

 

 

 

 

Secondary Sources  ( general reading)

 

https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/uh-60.htm

 

https://www.military.com/equipment/uh-60a-l-black-hawk

 

 

Edited September 21, 2018 by kev2go

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[CGFFEMT 5]

Would be very interested to see this added

[OkIES 35]

Would love to see this added! Would be a day 1 GE purchase for me :)!!!

[Universae 677]

I'd want this just so i can type "BLACKHAWK DOWN!" In the chat when i die. XD

[leandro4140 6]

see that panels cameras.... thas the suggestion multi crew..... more technology like the real machine not the model with the same instruments of a po-2

[_Iron_Force_ 6]

It would need to be up there with the ah1f and the ah1z, its too modern for it to be with the Vietnam era helicopters.

[Trotrodor 2,670]

+1

[Milocat 4,857]

+1 for the gunship blackhawk.

[Wilhuff_Tarkin_ 467]

+1

[PaganMin_ 483]

A proper decent US tree needs this alongside the AH-64 

[NorthyPark 40]

+1 yes please. This is all I want.. my baby attack blackhawk ))

[TerikG2014 1,389]

Hmm perhaps the Westland Blackhawk (WS-70) might work as a premium for the UK

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.