The South Dakota Army National Guard (SDANG) started fielding new HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for use as MEDEVAC (medical evacuation) vehicles in late October.
The first two of six aircraft are based at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rapid City, SD. The full complement of six are set to replace the current inventory of six UH-60 A/L model Black Hawk helicopters. The new vehicles will provide increased operational capability to support state and federal missions, SDANG said.
The helicopter replacements are expected to be completed by April 2015. During the transition, the older aircraft will be turned in and provided to other National Guard states.
The HH-60M is the U.S. Army’s newest MEDEVAC helicopter. South Dakota is receiving them as part of the Army’s aircraft modernization program.
“It’s great to have this aircraft because of its increased capabilities,” Maj. Jon Murphy, state army aviation officer, said in a statement.
The HH-60M’s technological improvements include improved engines, an improved rotor system with higher lift weight limits, nose mounted thermal imaging for search and rescue, an all-digital avionics suite, flight management system, glass cockpit with color displays, storm scope, and radio systems. The advanced avionics allow missions to be conducted in degraded weather settings, the SDANG explained.
The helicopters can also mount an external fuel system, adding up to 400 gallons of fuel for an additional range of an hour and a half.
Primarily used for troop medical evacuation, the Black Hawks can also be used to support aerial reconnaissance, search and rescue missions, and wildland fire suppression missions.
“The newer airframe will also allow for decreased maintenance time and increase the overall availability of aircraft for state missions due to built-in improvements, ”Murphy noted.
The HH-60M is produced by Sikorsky [UTX].