Moog GRC 4000 Autopilot Receives FAA STC for UH-60A Black Hawk

Moog has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification for its Genesys Aerosystems GRC 4000 four-axis autopilot on UH-60A and UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters, expanding IFR capabilities and reducing pilot workload.

More than 2,000 analog-cockpit Black Hawks remain in service worldwide, including an estimated 50 to more than 100 civilian UH-60A helicopters operating under FAA restricted-category certification. Used primarily for heavy-lift, firefighting and utility missions, these aircraft are prime candidates for modern glass cockpit and autopilot retrofits that address avionics obsolescence, improve operational capability and reduce the maintenance costs associated with aging analog instruments.

Mineral Wells, Texas – Moog Inc. has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for its fully coupled GRC 4000 four-axis rotorcraft autopilot on the UH-60A and UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters.

Fully integrated with the Genesys Avionics Suite, the new autopilot expands Moog's existing IFR-certified avionics package and marks an important step toward future certification for the UH-60L and Sikorsky S-70i.

Designed to improve instrument flight operations, the GRC 4000 provides continuous stability augmentation from engine start through shutdown while maintaining precise control during all phases of flight. The system integrates with the flight management system to deliver fully coupled four-axis flight control, enabling accurate navigation and significantly reducing pilot workload during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and low-altitude operations.

A single-button engagement allows the helicopter to transition into automatic flight, including fully coupled hover-to-hover operations. By automating complex flight control tasks, the system enables pilots to focus on mission execution during troop transport, logistics, search and rescue, firefighting, law enforcement and other special mission operations.

The Moog IFR avionics package with the GRC 4000 also provides a Tier 3 Rotorcraft Loss of Control solution in accordance with FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) 2026-05, the agency's highest recommended level of safety equipment for preventing accidents caused by inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent loss of control.

Key features include four-axis automated flight and hover capability, automatic recovery to level attitude across the flight envelope, continuous stability augmentation during every phase of flight, a lightweight and cost-effective design, and compatibility with existing legacy Black Hawk fleets through retrofit installation.

Matt McCall, Director of Business Development at Moog Avionics, said “The GRC 4000 is the first retrofit four-axis autopilot to be FAA certified on a Black Hawk. Moog is proud to bring a new level of automation and safety to this amazing aircraft, allowing pilots to focus on what truly matters — the mission.”

With its lightweight, retrofittable design and advanced automation capabilities, the GRC 4000 brings IFR-certified precision and reduced pilot workload to Black Hawk operators worldwide.

About Moog : Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems. Moog’s high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites, and space vehicles, launch vehicles, defense systems, missiles, automated industrial machinery, marine, and medical equipment.