U.S. Army to Reduce Black Hawk Fleet by 8% in Preparation for Future Assault Aircraft

The U.S. Army is set to reduce its UH-60 Black Hawk fleet by about 8%, cutting approximately 157 helicopters from its active-duty component. This reduction is part of the preparation for introducing the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) in the early 2030s as a replacement.

Last year, Textron-Bell’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft was chosen to replace the 40-year-old Sikorsky-made UH-60. The Army plans to replace the Boeing-made AH-64 Apache attack helicopter with the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft and is currently evaluating competitive demonstrator aircraft from two companies.

McCurry emphasized the importance of balancing current readiness with future procurement and fielding. The Black Hawk fleet grew to over 300 aircraft from the early 2000s to support higher end strength during deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. With a smaller force today, the Army no longer requires the entire fleet, reducing it from 2,135 to 1,978 aircraft.

The removal of the oldest Alpha and Lima models from the active component aims to reduce the fleet's age, lower long-term maintenance needs, and address critical parts challenges. The Army plans to sell these Black Hawks through Foreign Military Sales transactions or exchange and sales programs, each estimated at around $2 million per aircraft.

The timeline for removing these helicopters from the fleet is yet to be determined, pending fleet health assessments by Program Executive Office Aviation and Army Aviation and Missile Command. Additionally, the Army intends to upgrade its Mike-model Black Hawks and provide Victor models, identical to the Mike model, to the Army National Guard.

However, efforts to equip Black Hawks with new engines through the Improved Turbine Engine Program have been delayed due to technical and supply chain issues. The Army also plans to assess the size of the Boeing-manufactured CH-47 Chinook cargo fleet to align with the service’s force structure and end strength.

While the CH-47 Chinook fleet is under review, the AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will not undergo a similar examination at this time due to existing shortages resulting from recent losses.