U.S. Black Hawk Ranks as World’s Most Popular Military Helicopter After Soviet Mi-8 With 34 Nations in Service

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• We used data from a catalog of military helicopters from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries worldwide.
• One variant that is used a lot by the U.S. Navy is the SH-60 Seahawk. It is a multi-mission maritime helicopter.
• Also, 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever

Sikorsky Aircraft introduced the UH-60 Black Hawk in 1979, and it would go on to be used by the US military and 34 other countries worldwide. It is capable of moving 11 combat troops or a combination of supplies and troops. The helicopter is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics to increase survivability and capability. With the exception of the Soviet Mil Mi-8/17, the Black Hawk is the most popular and prolific military helicopter in the world. Playing a variety of roles in search and rescue, reconnaissance, transport, and close-air support has allowed it to become a staple in the arsenal of many militaries.

Black Hawk helicopters are typically outfitted with a series of machine guns and are capable of carrying Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles as well. However, these helicopters are fairly versatile and can be outfitted in a number of ways depending on the mission. Special forces outfits also have different armaments for their operational needs.

To identify the different variants of Black Hawk helicopters, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of military helicopters from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries worldwide. We ordered these helicopters chronologically and included supplemental information from the Military Factory regarding the type of helicopter, year introduced, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.

One variant that is used a lot by the U.S. Navy is the SH-60 Seahawk. It is a multi-mission maritime helicopter. This helicopter is primarily used for anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue missions. Its roles also extend to anti-surface warfare, surveillance, and logistics. The Seahawk is equipped with torpedoes, depth charges, and anti-ship missiles to handle a variety of threats. The Seahawk, like many other helicopters on this list, is an adaptation of the U.S. Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and has been exported to multiple countries, proving to be an effective component in military operations worldwide.

This post was updated on August 31, 2025 to clarify armaments and types of Black Hawks.

Why Are We Covering This?

The Black Hawk helicopter is a critical asset in modern military operations, developed by Sikorsky Aircraft. Since its introduction in the 1970s, it has become renowned for its versatility and reliability across diverse environments. The helicopter’s design and capacity to carry a significant payload make it a backbone of tactical support, enhancing the operational effectiveness of military forces globally.

Here is a look at the different variants of Black Hawk helicopters.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

• Type: Medium-lift, multi-mission helicopter
• Year introduced: 1979
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Top speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm general purpose machine guns, Hellfire anti-tank missiles, GAU-17 miniguns, M240 machine guns, FFAR rocket pods

Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

• Type: Multi-mission naval helicopter
• Year introduced: 1984
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Top speed: 205 mph
• Armament: Mk 46/50/54 torpedoes, AGM-114 Hellfire, AGM-119 Penguin (limited), .50 cal MGs/miniguns

Sikorsky VH-60 White Hawk

• Type: Presidential / VIP transport helicopter
• Year introduced: 1988
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky Aircraft (then part of United Technologies)
• Top speed: 183 mph
• Armament: N/A

Sikorsky HH-60 / MH-60T Jayhawk

• Type: Medium-range search and rescue/interdiction helicopter
• Year introduced: 1990
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Top speed: 207 mph
• Armament: Normally unarmed in U.S. Coast Guard service

Sikorsky MH-60L DAP (Direct-Action Penetrator)

• Type: Special Forces gunship helicopter
• Year introduced: 1990
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Top speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 30mm M230 chain gun automatic cannons, Hydra rocket pods, GAU-19 gun pods, M134 gun pods, Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Stinger air-to-air missiles

Sikorsky MH-60L / UH-60L (Razors Edge / Super 68)

• Type: Special Forces combat helicopter
• Year introduced: 1990
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Top speed: 103 mph
• Armament: 30mm automatic cannon, FFAR rocket pods, M134 miniguns, Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Stinger air-to-air missiles

Sikorsky HH-60 (Pave Hawk)

• Type: Combat search and rescue
• Year introduced: 1991
• Manufacturer(s): United Technologies / Sikorsky
• Top speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, M134 miniguns or 12.7mm GAU-18 miniguns

Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk)

• Type: Multi-mission, Navy cargo/utility helicopter
• Year introduced: 2002
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Top speed: 207 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm M240 machine guns, GAU-17/A miniguns, Hellfire anti-tank missiles, automatic cannon pods, machine gun pods

Piasecki X-49 Speedhawk

• Type: Experimental compound helicopter (never operational)
• Year introduced: 2007
• Manufacturer(s): Piasecki Aircraft Corporation / Sikorsky
• Top speed: 168 mph
• Armament: N/A

Sikorsky S-70 (Firehawk)

• Type: Firefighting adaptation of the S-70/UH-60
• Year introduced: 2008
• Manufacturer(s): United Rotorcraft / Sikorsky
• Top speed: 193 mph
• Armament: N/A

Sikorsky (Lockheed) Armed Black Hawk

• Type: Helicopter upgrade package
• Year introduced: 2017
• Manufacturer(s): Lockheed Martin / Sikorsky
• Top speed: 186 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns, miniguns, Hydra rockets, Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles, .50 cal GAU-18 or 7.62 mm M134 miniguns

Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II (Whiskey)

• Type: Dedicated combat rescue helicopter
• Year introduced: 2022
• Manufacturer(s): Sikorsky
• Top speed: 224 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine guns

The post U.S. Black Hawk Ranks as World’s Most Popular Military Helicopter After Soviet Mi-8 With 34 Nations in Service appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..