Can civilians buy Black Hawk
Sikorsky BLACK HAWK is a medium lift helicopter with multi-role versatile range of missions like air assault, medevac, csar, command and control, vip
The BLACK HAWK multirole helicopter serves with the U.S. military and the armed forces of 34 other countries worldwide as a tough, reliable utility helicopter.
During the last 40 years, this remarkable aircraft has fought its way in and out of countless combat zones to deliver and extract troops, save lives as a MEDEVAC or casualty evacuation platform, provide critical supplies to troops, deliver emergency supplies during natural disasters, and perform as an aerial firefighter and border patroller.
Now the modern variant of this utility aircraft is taking on a new mission set as an Armed Helicopter to provide fire suppression when supporting ground troops, as well as armed escort. With digital avionics, powerful GE engines, high strength airframe structures and composite wide chord rotor blades, todays BLACK HAWK platform has better survivability and situational awareness, and can fly higher and carry more than its predecessors ever did.
More than 4,000 BLACK HAWK aircraft of all types are in service worldwide today. The U.S. Army is the largest operator with 2,135 H-60 designated aircraft. The same aircraft sold internationally direct from Sikorsky acquires the S-70 designation.
How Much Does a Black Hawk Helicopter Cost? (A Breakdown)
Formally known as the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, the Black Hawk is a utility helicopter predominantly used by the United States military.
Since there is no officially disclosed price for a Black Hawk Helicopter, we can estimate that itd cost between $3 million to $26 million to purchase one, depending on the variant.
Civilian Black Hawks are known as the Sikorsky S-70 and cost approximately $13 million new.
Average Cost of a Black Hawk Helicopter
A Black Hawk helicopters price depends largely on its variant and purpose.
The price of a standard Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter could be as low as $5.9 million if multiple units are ordered simultaneously in standard configuration.
The price of a Black Hawk helicopter could reach as high as $25+ million if just a single helicopter was purchased with a unique configuration.
Cost of a Black Hawk Helicopter By Variant
UH-60L Black Hawk
The UH-60L Black Hawk is a twin-engine, four-blade and medium-lift utility helicopter developed by Sikorsky Aircraft.
The UH-60L Black Hawk was developed to provide utility, medical, and military roles.
The helicopter has been used for everything from conducting aerial assaults, evacuating personnel, performing reconnaissance, and acting as an aerial command post.
The average estimated price of this chopper is around $6 million.
This figure could change depending on the number of units orders and the geopolitical relationship between the country ordering the aircraft and the United States.
HH-60 Pave Hawk
The HH-60 Pave Hawk was derived from the previously mentioned UH-60 Black Hawk.
This chopper has a twin-turboshaft engine and is predominantly used by the United States Air Force.
This chopper includes the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program, so its primary role is in search and recovery operations.
The Pave Hawk is most frequently used to recover and transport troops from hostile conditions like battlefields.
A single Pave Hawk unit has an estimated cost of $10.2 million.
HH-60M Black Hawk
The HH-60M Black Hawk is the official medical evacuation version of the UH-60M Black Hawk.
Sikorsky Aircraft built this chopper for the US Army to evacuate wounded troops from battlefields.
This chopper has built-in medical facilities, including an electronically controlled litter system for carrying up to six patients, and is used exclusively for medical evacuation purposes.
The latest version of the UH-60M Black Hawk has an estimated unit price of $25 million.
Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawk
The Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawk is the official transport version of Blackhawk. Dubbed the White Hawk, its primarily used for VIP transportation.
Just like Air Force One, the White Hawk is used for transporting the US President, Vice President, Foreign Heads of State, and other high-ranking officials as per instructions from the Director of the White House Military Office.
The White Hawk has a reported per unit cost of $1.6 million.
UH-60J Black Hawk
The UH-60J Black Hawk was developed for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Maritime Self Defense Force. This helicopter was licensed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
This helicopter is mostly used for search and rescue missions by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. This chopper is almost exclusively used only in Japan.
Cost estimates vary, but its believed each unit has a price tag of between $13 to $14 million.
Sikorsky EH-60A
The Sikorsky EH-60A was derived from the UH-60A. This chopper has a modified electrical system and stations for two electronic systems mission operators. However, this aircraft hasnt been commercially produced yet.
The intended purpose of this aircraft is for electronic warfare. This aircraft was intended to be used to block enemy communications systems and disrupt their electronic systems.
As this helicopter was never commercially produced, there are no official indicators of its price.
Its estimated by some that if the chopper were produced, it would cost no less than $25 million per unit.
Black Hawk Helicopter Cost Per Hour
The operating costs of a military Black Hawk Helicopter are not publicly disclosed, but we can use estimates.
A Black Hawk Helicopters operating cost also varies depending on its model, so well provide a general range.
Operating cost per hour includes the total cost of operating the helicopter for an hour, including maintenance costs and fuel costs, among other expenses.
Its been estimated that an average Black Hawk Helicopters operating cost per hour is between $2,000 to $4,000, but the actual cost depends highly on the region of operation and market conditions.
Black Hawk Helicopter Cost to Fuel
Fuel consumption costs depend on factors like altitude above sea level, outside temperature, onboard weight, and flight speed.
Assuming that no external tanks are used, and all refueling equipment is present, it could cost between $800 to $2,000 to fuel a Black Hawk Helicopter.
Fueling costs also depend on the fossil fuel markets conditions.
Black Hawk Helicopter Maintenance Costs
Black Hawk helicopters parts have to be regularly replaced, so the maintenance costs of Black Hawk Helicopters are assumed to be extremely high.
Although no public information exists about Black Hawk helicopter maintenance costs, its estimated that the United States spends over $1 billion on Black Hawk helicopter maintenance in total per annum.
Helen Krasner holds a PPL(A), with 15 years experience flying fixed-wing aircraft; a PPL(H), with 13 years experience flying helicopters; and a CPL(H), Helicopter Instructor Rating, with 12 years working as a helicopter instructor.
Helen is an accomplished aviation writer with 12 years of experience, having authored several books and published numerous articles while also serving as the Editor of the BWPA (British Women Pilots Association) newsletter, with her excellent work having been recognized with her nomination of the Aviation Journalist of the Year award.
Helen has won the Dawn to Dusk International Flying Competition, along with the best all-female competitors, three times with her copilot.
How Much Does a Black Hawk Helicopter Cost?
The Black Hawk Helicopter is the most dangerous Helicopter by US Army that is popularly used for air assaults, air cavalry, and aeromedical evacuations.
Its a four-blade twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter that a popular company Sikorsky manufactures for the United States Army. The one unit costs around $3 to $26 million depending on the variant because each variant has its pros and cons.
Sikorsky manufactures a civilian helicopter S-70, that costs between $12 million to $14 million.
How much does a Black Hawk Helicopter Cost? ( Range )
The exact price of a Black Hawk helicopter depends on the variant because, depending upon the variant; the Black Hawk will be equipped with an advanced weapon system for attaching missions, the ability to engage static or moving targets, forward-firing guns, Rockets, and laser-guided missiles, and much more.
But, a standard UH-60 Black Hawk will be available for as low as $5.9 Million with standard configuration, and the well-equipped variant with advanced features and advanced configuration can cost $25+ Million.
Black Hawk Variants
UH-60L Black Hawk
The UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopter is the most popular variant among the United States Army that is used for different roles like air assaults, air cavalry, medical, evacuation, surveillance, and, most popularly, aerial command.
The cost of this helicopter is estimated at $6 million. Still, this figure can vary depending on the number of units ordered and the relationship between the countries ( The one ordering the aircraft and the one delivering the choppers ).
HH-60 Pave Hawk
The second most popularly used chopper by the United States Air Force is the HH-60 Pave Hawk, which is also a twin-engine, four-blade chopper that is used for PAVE electric systems program, which is a search and recovery type of program that means the helicopter isnt designed for aerial assaults and isnt equipped with modern weaponry system. Still, it has weapons onboard to successfully troops from hostile conditions like battlefields success-60 Pave Hawk costs around 10.2 Million Bucks.
HH-60M Black Hawk
The next US Army chopper is HH-60M, another popularly used helicopter by not only the US army but also by other big armies in the world to do successful evacuations during the battlefields because it is designed specifically for evacuation and has all the built-in features like medical stuff, electronically controlled litter system for at least six patients, making the chopper super ideal for medical evacuation.
This chopper costs $25 Million.
Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawk
Up next is the Sikorsky VH-60N, another great chopper by the company. The companys cheapest chopper comes for only $1.6 Million. The nickname of this chopper is White Hawk or Angel because it is used for saving or transporting VIPVIPsrsonally like the US President, Vice President, Foreign Heads of State, and other important personal and high-ranking staff. The pilots of this chopper are directly in contact with the current CEO of the military people inside the white house.
UH-60J Black Hawk
The UH-60J is a special chopper designed for only the Japanese Army and costs $12+ Million United States Dollars. This chopper is produced by the Japanese Air Self Defence department and licensed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
This chopper is partially used for VIP transportation and battlefield rescue missions.
The UH-60J is a Japanese-made aircraft and is only used in Japan.
Sikorsky EH-60A
This is the most advanced type of chopper that isnt yet developed on a scale for commercial applications. Still, this concept chopper will cost around $20+ US Millions and will be used for modern electronic warfare.
The EH-60A can block enemy communications systems and the most advanced electronic system for disrupting the enemys electronic systems during the battle, which can give an edge to this chopper.
The Eh-60A requires two operators to operate the most advanced electronic system onboard.
Black Hawk Operating Cost
Depending on the variant in hand, the Black Hawk can cost millions of dollars just for operating the equipment.
There are no official statements about the operational costs, but we will provide you with an estimated range.
Cost Per Hour
The cost per hour for the maintenance of the chopper, as well as fuel and other expenses, mean the chopper can easily cost $2,000 to $4,000 for an hour. This price estimate can differ depending on the grounds the helicopter is operating and the market conditions of that ground.
Chopper Fuelling cost
Fuel cost depends on the scale of consumption, and that depends on several factors like the load/weight the chopper will be carrying, the altitude above sea level where the chopper will be flying, the external temperature, and most importantly, at what speed the chopper is moving, all these factors are going to determine the fueling cost of the aircraft.
Still, there are other factors like the use of weapons on board, but the estimate is that the chopper will cost between $800 to $2,000 to fuel one Black Hawk, which is entirely dependent on the fuel rates of the country.
Maintenance cost
For US Army, the biggest chunk of the Air defense budget goes to the maintenance of the equipment they possess, like tanks, choppers, fighting jets, artillery, etc.
Regarding Black Hawks, the maintenance cost for one chopper is tough because of different factors. Still, the US Army allocated a total budget of $1 billion to maintain Black Hawks to replace old parts with new ones or upgrade the weaponry system and many other things. This is the cost for one year; each year, they spend a whopping $1 Billion to upgrade their war toys.
Can Civilians buy a used Black Hawk Helicopter?
Civilians are allowed to purchase the non-military Black Hawk choppers. Still, they have no right to own a military helicopter, and the non-military Black Hawk is the one without the military hardware.
Civilians can get only available models or variants by spending as much as $3 to $5 million, depending on the aircrafts condition.
The popular civilian chopper S-70 comes with a price tag of $14 million, which is the price for a brand-new model.
In the end, I would say that the US spent heavily on war equipment, including choppers, and their arsenal contains war choppers, evacuation, and search choppers.
And each Black Hawk is going to cost $3 to $25 Million, depending on the model and the features it has.
What is a Blackhawk Helicopter?
The Blackhawk helicopter is an impeccable wild looking medium-lift military helicopter that was first manufactured in 1979 by Sikorsky Aircraft for military operations and was heavily used in the battles of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Blackhawk word comes from a US tribe based in Illinois that gave their name to the city.
The Blackhawk is the only bird that US military Coast Guard uses for Combat Search and Rescue ( CSAR) mission and Law Enforcement Patrol.
Many elite-class business tycoons also use this chopper for business meetings, and other uses of this heavy-duty aircraft are Media, Film Industry services, construction services, Agriculture, and Fisheries.
Different armies of the world have no access to this chopper, which means the common uses by the armed forces include troop transportation, assault operations, and rescue operations.
The 20th-century wars are only fought with this aircraft, like wars in Panama, Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Middle East.
