South Korea has launched a $30 million contest for a vendor to supply kits to upgrade four Sikorsky UH-60P Black Hawk utility helicopters to the HH-60P Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue configuration. Industry sources say BAE Systems, Israel Aircraft Industries and Sikorsky are reviewing a late June request for proposals to supply automatic hover-hold systems (AHHS), personnel locator systems, multi-mode radars, forward-looking infrared sensors and electronic mapping equipment. Seoul is specifying that the AHHS be acquired from US firm DRS Technologies, and sources suggest Sikorsky could decide against bidding because it does not want its engineers to integrate the DRS solution. A contract will be awarded by year-end, with follow-on deals expected to modify additional aircraft to cover the planned withdrawal of US-operated Pave Hawks.
Source: Flight International
