By: Maj. Sam M. Yoo, Assistant Product Manager (APM), H-60 Development and Modernization and Chief Warrant 4 Sean Spears, Air-Launched Effects, APM Support Officer
FORT IRWIN, CA — The U.S. Army accelerated and demonstrated the air-launched effects (A-LE) capability of the H-60M Black Hawk during rigorous flight testing at Project Convergence Capstone 6 (PCC6) this July. This event adds to the recent success the program demonstrated at A.P. Hill, Virginia last month.
Aligning directly with the Army’s strategic goal of rapid transformation across the force, H-60M A-LE integrators and engineers collaborated closely with military technical programs and commercial industry partners to test and demonstrate this advanced capability. Increment 1 of the A-LE capability is a fully government owned and designed system, developed in partnership with the Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO) and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC). Over the course of the three-day exercise, aircrews launched and controlled multiple launched effects (LEs) despite the intense heat of the Mojave Desert, demonstrating the system’s robust environmental resilience. The Increment 1 capability on H-60 can launch and control multiple LEs from the H-60 in a fully networked system configuration.
Dr. Stephanie Reitmeier, Director for DEVCOM AvMC Maneuver Air Directorate and Maneuver Air System Center, said “It's truly remarkable when dedicated Americans from government and industry collaborate to deliver results. Moving with speed and embracing experimentation as a unified team is driving transformational change across Army capabilities.”
Fast-tracking A-LE and Munitions This test event advanced A-LE from the H-60 and fast-tracked the Long-Range Precision Munition (LRPM), the lethal variant of the Army's Launched Effects program. Managed by the Capability Program Executive (CPE) for Offensive Fires, LRPM gives Soldiers autonomy, one-to-many control, and the power to mass fires on a target at the same time.
The capstone event was a unique opportunity for Soldiers and allied partners to see the aircraft's modified configuration and engage directly with subject matter experts. The A-LE equipped H-60M is a critical force multiplier, enabling ground units to penetrate contested airspace while maintaining essential standoff distance.
“Successfully launching Air-Launched Effects from a Black Hawk is more than a milestone, it is a leap forward,”said Brig. Gen. Kevin Chaney, Deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Maneuver Air.“By extending their reach and increasing lethality, we are changing the battlefield geometry and delivering a decisive advantage to our Soldiers.”
H-60 as the LE Gateway Enabler In addition to its LE payloads, the modified H-60M features advanced networking capabilities to share information between air and ground forces. The H-60M as an LE gateway streamlines battlespace management and provides a highly reliable node for over-the-horizon communications between aviation and ground assets. Moving forward, the Army will mature the Black Hawk’s A-LE capabilities through further testing and evaluation. These advancements will significantly enhance the platform's lethality and survivability in support of large-scale combat operations.
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