Sikorsky EH-60A Black Hawk
Palmerston North Airport, Manawatu
The Sikorsky EH-60A Black Hawk is a specialized electronic warfare and signals intelligence (SIGINT) variant of the ubiquitous UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Developed in the 1980s for the United States Army, the EH-60A was designed to perform electronic countermeasures, communications jamming, and electronic intelligence gathering missions in support of ground operations. The "EH" designation stands for "Electronic Helicopter," reflecting its primary mission of electronic warfare rather than transport or assault. These aircraft were modified from standard UH-60A airframes with the addition of extensive electronic equipment, antennas, and specialized mission systems housed both internally and in external pods or fairings.
“The Sikorsky EH-60A Black Hawk is a specialized electronic warfare and signals intelligence (SIGINT) variant of the ubiquitous UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.”
The EH-60A featured a distinctive appearance with various antenna arrays and electronic warfare equipment protruding from the fuselage, making it visually distinct from standard Black Hawks. The aircraft was equipped with the Quick Fix IIB system, which could detect, locate, and jam enemy communications and electronic systems. A typical EH-60A crew included pilots and electronic warfare officers who operated the specialized equipment. The EH-60A served primarily with military intelligence units and special operations forces during the late Cold War era and into the 1990s. However, the EH-60A fleet was relatively small and had a limited service life, eventually being supplemented and largely replaced by more advanced electronic warfare platforms including improved variants and other specialized aircraft. Despite its relatively short operational tenure, the EH-60A represented an important capability in the Army's electronic warfare arsenal during a critical period of technological evolution in military communications and signals intelligence.
