The UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-engined medium lift utility helicopter. It is equipped with a single 4-bladed rotor and a single 4-bladed tail rotor. The basic crew compliment for the UH-60A is three; pilot, co-pilot, and crewchief. The titanium cored rotor blades are resistant to AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) fire up to 23mm and are equipped with pressurized sensors capable of detecting loss of rotor pressurization (damage.)
The A model was intended to carry 11 combat troops in addition to an crew of three (pilot, co-pilot, crew chief) and was proposed to serve in utility, air assault, medivac, command and control, and reconnaissance roles. The Army began converting Black Hawks to the medivac role in 1981. The UH-60 was qualified on the Hellfire AGM-114 ATGM in 1987 as well as the helicopter-borne Volcano mine delivery system (The Volcano is a 6,480-pound system that dispense 960 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines.) Beginning in 1985 the Black Hawk's cockpit lighting was modified to be NVG compatible (new airframes had this included into their manufacture. In 1987 Wire strike protection was added to all aircraft. The UH-60A utilize a dragging tail wheel landing gear system, with two non-movable main gear struts, and a rotating lockable tail wheel assembly. For operations in arctic environments, the Black Hawk can be fitted with landing skis. The UH-60A is equipped with troop accommodations for eight, which can be detached to put up four full-sized medical litters. The Black Hawk can transport 11 fully equipped combat soldiers in an assault ready configuration, or 14 in a maximum capacity situation. Maximum troop carrying capacity is 20 lightly equipped personnel. The dedicated medivac variant of the Black Hawk can accommodate 6 litters.The UH-60A is equipped with a reward sliding and lockable door on each side of the cargo compartment. The external cargo hook is rated to 8,000 pounds (3,630 kg.)
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