Tel Aviv. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is offering an upgrade package for the Black Hawk helicopter and is in talk with current operators and future ones that plan to purchase used helicopters. Last year, IAI completed a prototype of an upgraded Black Hawk helicopter. The upgrade demonstrator was designed by the new aviation group of IAI, that was formed after merging some of the previously separated entities within the company.

The Black Hawk upgrade program is aimed at current operators of the helicopter and at air forces that want to purchase surplus helicopters and upgrade them as an alternative to buying a new helicopter. The upgraded package includes a glass cockpit with HMD which ensures, reduced crew workload and enhanced situational awareness, enhanced navigation systems, high performance mission EO payload, weapons  and self-protection/ EW systems.

According to Yoav Laor, VP and general manager of conversion and upgrades in the aviation group, the upgrade includes airframe work and the full overhaul of the Black Hawk’s transmission units and rotor blades.

“Our package is now being offered to air forces that are operating Black Hawks and others that plan to buy old Black Hawks and upgrade them. It will cost much less than to buy a new helicopter with similar capabilities”, Laor said.

-The writer is an International Roving Correspondent of the publication.