The advanced weapon system for Black Hawk® helicopters allows pilots to identify and engage static or moving targets with forward firing guns, rockets and laser-designated air-to-ground missiles.
Fully integrated with the aircraft’s digital flight controls, the weapon system calculates the range and the complex ballistics required for pilot gunners to hit targets with high accuracy and reliability from stand-off distances during day and night operations.
The weapon system brings a cost-effective attack capability to third generation Black Hawk® aircraft while fully retaining the platform’s multi-role utility. Ground crews can add or remove external wings and weapons of choice in three hours.
Sikorsky qualified the weapon system to U.S. military airworthiness standards in 2017 after extensive live fire flight testing. The system is now operational with the UAE.
Militaries can acquire the weapon system with new Black Hawk aircraft acquired direct from Sikorsky, or as a kit retrofitted onto already-fielded third generation aircraft by a Sikorsky-qualified modification center.
Each pilot controls four weapons stations carried on two external wings:
- Each station can carry any combination of fixed forward 50-cal (12.7mm) gun, 7- or 19-shot Hydra 70 rocket pods, or air-to-ground missiles.
- Additionally, pilots can control two forward firing 7.62-mm mini-guns mounted to the cabin windows (when not crew served).
- Pilots can view and track a target via the aircraft’s electro-optical/imaging infrared (EO/IIR) sensor/rangefinder.
- A helmet-mounted Display and Tracker System (pictured) presents pilots with a continuously computed impact point for gun and rockets rounds, as well as target designation for laser-guided missiles.
