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 it’d 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.
A Black Hawk helicopter’s 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.
Purpose
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.
Cost
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.
The Pave Hawk is most frequently used to recover and transport troops from hostile conditions like battlefields.
Cost
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.
Purpose
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.
Cost
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”, it’s primarily used for VIP transportation.
Purpose
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.
Cost
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.
Purpose
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
Cost estimates vary, but it’s 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 hasn’t been commercially produced yet.
Purpose
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.
Cost
As this helicopter was never commercially produced, there are no official indicators of its price.
It’s 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 Helicopter’s operating cost also varies depending on its model, so we’ll 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.
It’s been estimated that an average Black Hawk Helicopter’s 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 market’s conditions.
Black Hawk Helicopter Maintenance Costs
Black Hawk helicopter’s 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, it’s 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.
