Mielec 2011-04-19
Sikorsky-Mielec Black Hawk S-70i
317b Section 15.03.2010 year. Poland.
S-70i Black Hawk: International military version produced by Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec in Poland.
S-70i Black Hawk.
The S-70i Black Hawk helicopter is the latest model of the Black Hawk family of multi-role aircraft. The helicopter is being built by PZL Mielec, a subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft. The S-70i is offered to international military customers and government agencies. The letter "i" in the name means international - international.
The S-70i helicopter can be configured for customer-specific missions such as military transport and assault, command and control, border patrol, search and rescue, cargo transport and VIP transport.
In PZL Mielec, the first cabin was built on March 12, 2009. The first complete S-70i helicopter at PZL Mielec was built on March 15, 2010, and its first flight was made at the Sikorsky Aircraft research center in West Palm Beach, Florida on July 1, 2010.
The S-70i and UH-60 helicopters have the same airframe, which is why PZL Mielec produces components for the UH-60 helicopter. Initially, S-70i helicopters were sent to the USA for retrofitting. Later, the helicopters were completed at PZL Mielec and from Mielec they were delivered to customers.
PZL Mielec delivered the first three S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to the customer in August 2011.
Sikorsky Aircraft signed a contract with the Brunei Ministry of Defense in December 2011. For the supply of 12 S-70i helicopters to the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF). The scope of the contract also includes the supply of spare parts, training equipment and ground support, as well as an option for ten additional helicopters.
Sikorsky delivered five S-70i Black Hawks to the Special Forces unit of the Air Assault Division in Colombia in March 2013. The Colombian Army placed an order with Sikorsky Aircraft for two additional S-70i Black Hawks in April 2013.
The S-70i Black Hawk helicopter has a maximum gross weight of 9,979 kg. It can accommodate two crew members and up to 13 armed soldiers.
The reliable design of the S-70i airframe is crash-resistant, integrates the structure of the cargo hold and cockpit. The design can resist small arms fire and larger projectiles. The entry and exit of the crew and troops is via the opening cockpit door and two sliding doors of the cargo hold.
The helicopter can be equipped with ballistic protection, an active vibration control system, medical equipment, an integrated helicopter health monitoring system (IVHM), additional fuel tanks, an external rescue winch, a descent device and a cargo hook.
The S-70i's glass cockpit offers crash-safe seating for the pilot and co-pilot. The fully integrated digital cockpit features an advanced avionics suite with four 10-inch Multi-Function Displays (MFDs), a dual digital automatic flight control system and a coupled flight controller and flight management system (FMS).
The navigation and communication systems include dual built-in GPS/INS with digital map, two UHF/VHF radios, AM/FM, automatic direction finder, VOR/ILS, and a three-stage electronic communications system (ICS). The spacious hold has an area of 8.1 m2.
The basic S-70i helicopter does not have standard armament. Newly built S-70i helicopters or existing platforms can be integrated into the Battlehawk system. The system includes machine guns, 70 mm rocket launchers, a system of laser-guided air-to-surface missiles, controlled from the pilot's helmet, an external armament mounting system on outriggers.
The S-70i Black Hawk is powered by two T700-GE701D turboshaft engines with Type C electronic controls. Each engine develops a maximum power of 1,447 kW. Turbine engines can run for 30 minutes without lubrication. The T700-GE-701D motor is replaced in 4 hours. The helicopter has an auxiliary power unit Solar T62T-40-1 with a power of 100 hp (75 kW). The two-motor drive moves the main rotor consisting of four composite-titanium blades. The fuel system consists of two independent and self-sealing fuel tanks located behind the cargo hold. Single point connection allows pressure refueling of all fuel tanks.
The S-70i Black Hawk is equipped with a three-point landing gear with energy absorption functions. The heavy-duty landing gear allows it to land and take off from virtually any unprepared terrain.
The S-70i can fly at a maximum cruise speed of 277 km/h. The AEO helicopter service ceiling (all operational engines) is 13,200 feet. The helicopter has a maximum range of 459 km without reserve.
The S-70i Black Hawk can be transported on board the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft or any larger aircraft.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman