The US Army has successfully completed operational testing of the Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60Q medical evacuation (medevac) helicopter and will modify 357 in-service UH-60As to the new standard from 2002.
Sikorsky reconfigured four UH-60A Black Hawk utility helicopters to the UH-60Q "Dustoff" standard for integration of new mission equipment, including a Breeze-Eastern external rescue hoist, weather radar, storm-detection equipment, forward looking infrared made by FLIR Systems, Litton Life Support's Molecular Sieve Oxygen Generating System and the Air Methods Multi-Mission Medevac System interior.
Congress has earmarked funding for four new-production UH-60Qs that will be delivered in early 2000 to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The helicopter, which to be designated HH-60L, will replace litter-equipped UH-60As and Bell Helicopter UH-1Vs operated by active Army and reserve medical units, says Eugene Pfeiffer, US Army UH-60Q product manager.
The US Army will offer UH-60Q modification work to competition, with Sikorsky likely to face competition from Raytheon Systems among others, Pfeiffer adds.With an estimated unit cost of $3 million, the value of the project could exceed $1 billion.
Source: Flight International
