Universal Avionics’ IFR-capable flight management system (FMS) has been selected for the US Army’s Sikorsky HH/UH-60L/M Black Hawk Federated Advanced Navigation System (FANS) programme.
Integration of the FMS into the aircraft has been carried out by the company in collaboration with the US Army Aviation and Missile Research Engineering Development Center (AMRDEC), Prototype Integration Facility (PIF) and the programme’s prime contractor Redstone Defense Systems.
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The current project helps meet the Black Hawk programme’s requirement to integrate a commercial off the shelf (COTS) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified navigational system to meet navigation performance area navigation (RNP / RNAV) and global position system RNAV (GPS / RNAV) requirements.
Universal Avionics Government Business Development senior manager Bob Sanchez said: “Our COTS FMSs facilitate the integration of a solution that allows the Black Hawk to retain all of its mission critical avionics equipment, while adding new operational capabilities.
“Universal’s solution also meets precision navigation mandates that are critical to aircrew safety. To support the unique missions of the Black Hawk, we are providing night vision goggle-compatible variants.”
In order to meet the GPS / RNAV requirement, Sikorsky’s Black Hawk helicopter will be equipped with a single UNS FMS with a four-inch flat-panel control display unit.
The Black Hawk aircraft is deployed to deliver and extract troops to and from combat zones, serve as a MEDEVAC or casualty evacuation platform, deliver critical supplies to troops, provide emergency supplies during natural disasters, and carry out aerial firefighting and border patrolling missions.
