F
rom the chaotic skies over
Somalia during the Battle of
Mogadishu in 1993, to the
covert operation to kill Osama Bin
Laden in 2011, Black Hawk
helicopters are among the
deadliest, most effective tools
available to any modern military.
A fter its experiences in the
Vietnam War in the 1960s and 70s,
the US military knew just how
essential it was to have tough,
multi-role helicopters available.
Not only were these aircraft useful
for rapidly transporting combat
personnel to and from battlefi elds,
they could even remain on the
front line to prov ide direct support.
However, the existing Huey
helicopters were out of date.
Two US companies, Boeing
Vertol and Sikorsk y, went head-to-
head with their rival designs for
the new combat helicopter, with
the latter fi nally w inning the
contract with its S-70 prototype.
Since the model fi rst took to the
skies in 1974, a huge number of
variants have gone into
production, each with its own
specifi c role to play in a combat
zone. For instance, the secretive
‘MH-X’ version – used during the
mission to kill A l-Qaeda’s chief –
was rumoured to be equipped
with stealth technology, making it
almost undetectable to radar.
The MH-60 variant seen here
was developed from the standard
UH-60 Black Hawk for use during
special operations. The machine’s
effective range was greatly
increased with the addition of a
more effi cient fuel tank, the
installation of systems for aerial
refuelling, and the improvement of
the craft’s overall sur v ivabilit y. It
was during a special operation that
these assets would be put to the
ultimate test, an incident known
as Black Hawk Down.Designed for special operations in
hostile environments, this was a
new kind of war machine, built for a
new kind of battlefi eld
Sikorsky MH-60
Black Hawk
“ Black Hawk helicopters are
among the deadliest and most
effective tools available to any
modern military”
The high-powered tech behind the
MH-60 military machineInside a Black Hawk Machine guns
Two electrically powered
M134 Miniguns, capable of
fi ring a combined 12,000
rounds per minute, can be
mounted on the aircraft.Optional extras
Black Hawks can be fi tted
with Hellfi re anti-tank
missiles and rocket pods, as
well as additional fuel tanks
for long-haul missions.The Black Hawk is capable of carrying a range
of weaponry, and will often house a door
gunner for protection in hostile environmentsMILITARY