U.S. Black Hawk Ranks as World's Most Popular Military Helicopter After Soviet Mi-8 With 34 Nations in Service

"Sikorsky Aircraft introduced the UH-60 Black Hawk in 1979, and it would go on to be used by the US military and 34 other countries worldwide. It is capable of moving 11 combat troops or a combination of supplies and troops. The helicopter is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics to increase survivability and capability. With the exception of the Soviet Mil Mi-8/17, the Black Hawk is the most popular and prolific military helicopter in the world."

"Playing a variety of roles in search and rescue, reconnaissance, transport, and close-air support has allowed it to become a staple in the arsenal of many militaries. Black Hawk helicopters are typically outfitted with a series of machine guns and are capable of carrying Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles as well. However, these helicopters are fairly versatile and can be outfitted in a number of ways depending on the mission. Special forces outfits also have different armaments for their operational needs."

"One variant that is used a lot by the U.S. Navy is the SH-60 Seahawk. It is a multi-mission maritime helicopter. This helicopter is primarily used for anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue missions. Its roles also extend to anti-surface warfare, surveillance, and logistics. The Seahawk is equipped with torpedoes, depth charges, and anti-ship missiles to handle a variety of threats."

The UH-60 Black Hawk entered service in 1979 and serves the US military and 34 other countries, carrying 11 combat troops or mixed cargo. The helicopter features advanced avionics and electronics to boost survivability and capability and ranks as one of the most popular military helicopters worldwide after the Soviet Mil Mi-8/17. Black Hawks perform search and rescue, reconnaissance, transport, and close-air support, and are commonly armed with machine guns and Hellfire missiles while remaining adaptable for mission-specific fittings and special forces requirements. The SH-60 Seahawk is a naval adaptation configured for anti-submarine, anti-surface, surveillance, and logistics roles with torpedoes and anti-ship weapons. A Military Factory catalog lists variants and technical details such as type, year introduced, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.

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