ABOV E A N D BE YON D BLACK HAWK


Modernization decisions made this decade will affect the next generation of Army aviators.


by Scott Rosengren


are tactical commanders in a rapidly evolving battlespace. Te cognitive load they face is immense,” said Col. Ryan Nesrsta, program manager for the Utility Helicopter Project Office (UHPO) within Program Executive Office for Aviation (PEO AVN). “Autonomous systems aim to alleviate this burden, acting as co-pilots that manage routine or time-intensive tasks—navi- gating difficult terrain, monitoring fuel efficiency or handling basic maneuvers—so that pilots can concentrate on mission- critical decisions.”


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Today, the Army must enable near-term Army Aviation support to current engagements in Europe and the Middle East, as well as possible escalation in the Far East, while also ensuring that it is “future proof” so Black Hawks can support the Army’s missions of today (2030), tomorrow (2040) and beyond (2050+).


Te UHPO outlines three key areas of Black Hawk modern- ization:


• Targeted modernization to meet the needs of today’s Army, highlighted by adding structural improvements for launched effects capability.


• Payload and range improvements and a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to cockpit avionics to allow rapid insertion of increased capability to tomorrow’s warfighters.


• Risk reduction in fly-by-wire (FBW), autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor fusion to allow opti- mally piloted capability (OPC) across the Army aviation enterprise.


72 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2025


s a result of an Army decision made in February 2024 to rebalance the aviation portfolio, the Army will be flying Black Hawk helicopters far into the future. “Modern aviators are not just pilots; they


TARGETED MODERNIZATION FOR THE ARMY OF 2030 A key takeaway from the current wars in Europe and the Middle East is that launched effects (LEs)—drones launched from aerial or ground assets in combat—employed en masse will overwhelm the enemy and traditional defense systems. Te Army aviation enterprise is working both near- and mid-term solutions (as shown at recent EDGE and Project Convergence events) to allow ground and air forces to seamlessly deploy and employ LEs in increasingly effective and lethal ways. In support of this effort, the Army is improving the Black Hawk to deploy LEs. Te structural improvements on the Black Hawk will increase the maximum gross takeoff weight of the aircraft. Te increased maximum gross takeoff weight will allow the Black Hawk to carry LEs to be deployed against the adversary. Tis increase, combined with advancements in composite materials, allows battlefield commanders to gain and maintain overmatch in today’s wars, not only in the emerging use of LEs but also in more effective traditional Black Hawk missions.


PAYLOAD AND RANGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE ARMY OF 2040 Te foundation of Black Hawk modernization is the T901 engine. Te T901 achieves a 50% power growth to 3,000 shaft horse- power over the current T700 engine. Tis increased power will improve the Black Hawk’s ability to operate in extreme weather and battlefield conditions worldwide for generations to come. Tis power growth also comes with a reduction in specific fuel consumption, which will extend the reach of the Black Hawk. Te first Black Hawk aircraft test flight with the T901 engine is scheduled for early 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida.


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