An early practical result of the acquisition of Sikorsky by Lockheed Martin last November is on display outside LM’s pavilion (Outdoor Exhibit 8) here. It is a fully armed version of the Black Hawk helicopter, using mostly LM weaponry. Moreover, it has displaced LM’s full-scale F-35 model from its usual prime position to a corner of the static park below Hall 1—an indication of LM’s serious intent to leverage its new rotary-wing product line.
“Budgets are tight, and customers are asking for this additional option on what is already a very versatile and trusted helicopter,” said Bill Gostic, vice-president global military systems and services for LM-Sikorsky. He said that, unlike previous armed versions of the UH-60 series, the new version offers a highly integrated solution driven by a weapons management system (WMS) from Elbit. The helicopter on display shows AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, DAGR laser guided rockets, Hydra 70 rocket pods, and a FN-Herstal 12.7mm gun on a pylon mounted beneath its stub wings. LM’s recently-launched Infirno EO/IR sensor turret hangs beneath the nose. But Gostic said that customers could specify other weapons.
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