First UH-60V Delivered to National Guard

US Army, July 29, 2021 - FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA – The Pennsylvania National Guard's Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) received the first fielding of UH-60V Black Hawks from the Utility Helicopter Program Office (UHPO) on July 27.

The UH-60V helicopter was developed with a focus on overhauling the aging UH-60A/L fleet. The "V" model includes an upgraded digital glass cockpit, certified GPS RNAV database and advanced flight planning and mission capability.

"The improved UH-60V airframe provides the Army National Guard enhanced capabilities better to support the multi-domain battlefield of today and tomorrow," said Col. Joseph Bishop, the Army National Guard's Aviation and Safety Division chief.

"We are excited to have our aviators start in this new, modernized helicopter for the Army, and what better place to start than here in Pennsylvania at EAATS."

EAATS has collaborated with the National Guard Bureau; UHPO; Directorate of Evaluations and Standardization; Army Capabilities Manager-Lift; Directorate of Training and Doctrine; and Army Test and Evaluation Command to develop a holistic training support package that will enable units to conduct local training to qualify aviators in the UH-60V.

"With six total UH-60V aircraft, EAATS will provide initial qualification in a 'train-the-trainer' fashion," said Lt. Col. Tim Zerbe, Pennsylvania's state Army aviation officer. "This process enables unit instructor pilots, standardization pilots and maintenance examiners to get trained and then take that knowledge back to their units to train others."

EAATS is a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command-accredited institution of excellence located at Fort Indiantown Gap's Muir Army Airfield. It conducts individual aviator qualification training, enlisted aviation training and non-commissioned officer professional development. EAATS's utility helicopter mission is focused on UH-60M/V training for aircraft mechanics and crew members from the Army National Guard, active-duty Army and Army Reserve, and foreign militaries, as directed.

First UH-60V Army Unit

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL by Paul Stevenson - The Program Executive Office Aviation’s Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO) began fielding the first Army National Guard unit with UH-60V Black Hawk helicopters July 27.

The UHPO delivered five UH-60Vs to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Eastern ARNG Aviation Training Site (EAATS) at Fort Indiantown Gap, which becomes the first unit equipped and organically assigned with the aircraft. The sixth and final aircraft will arrive 31 July.

The UH-60V, a recapitalized UH-60L model, has a modern digital cockpit resulting in a similar functionality and capability as the UH-60M. The updated cockpit increases a pilot’s situational awareness while reducing the work load, resulting in a more capable and safer aviation platform. The UH-60V is the first army aircraft to implement an open system architecture, a critical element of the Future Vertical Lift Ecosystem.

Additionally, providing a nearly identical pilot-vehicle interface to the UH-60M enables common training and operational environment which reduces training costs. The UHPO has collaborated with the EAATS, National Guard Bureau, Directorate of Evaluations and Standardization, Army Capabilities Manager-Lift, Directorate of Training and Doctrine, and the Army Test and Evaluation Command to develop a holistic Training Support Package that will enable units to conduct local training to qualify aviators to fly the UH-60V.

“The UH-60V marks the entry into service of the Army’s first helicopter with a modular, open architecture systems design,” said Lt. Col. Dan Thetford, Product Manager for the UH-60V helicopter. “It’s been a collaborative effort among several military organizations and industry to develop and deliver this enhanced capability for the Active Army and Army National Guard, and achieving the First Unit Equipped milestone with EAATS on schedule and within budget is the culmination of those efforts.”

By re-capitalizing the current legacy fleet, the Army will be able to deliver the modernized UH-60V for significantly less than the cost of a new aircraft. The Army plans to convert 760 UH-60L aircraft to the UH-60V configuration and they will remain part of the enduring Utility Helicopter fleet well into the future.

The first tactical unit to be equipped with the UH-60V will be the 1-106th Aviation Regiment, scheduled to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2022.

About PEO Aviation: The Program Executive Office for Aviation is the Army manager for 10 project offices including: Apache Helicopters, Aviation Mission Systems & Architecture, Aviation Turbine Engine, Cargo Helicopters, Fixed Wing Aircraft, Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, Future Long-Range Attack Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Utility Helicopters, and Multinational Aviation Special Projects. The organization's primary responsibility is to Serve Soldiers and our nation by Designing, Developing, Delivering and Supporting advanced aviation capabilities for operational commanders and our allies.