The Army’s calling: Can you help keep the Black Hawk flying into 2050?

Hey, aerospace innovators, maintenance pros, and defense contractors—got your attention? The U.S. Army’s Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO) is on the hunt for partners, and they’re handing you a rare opportunity help keep the legendary UH-60M Black Hawk soaring well into 2050 and beyond.

Yeah, you read that right—2050. The Black Hawk isn’t just hanging around; it’s still the go-to utility helicopter for the Army, and with over 15 million flight hours under its rotors, it’s earned every bit of that legacy. But here’s the real deal: keeping these birds mission-ready for decades isn’t just about patching them up. It’s about smart, scalable, commercial-grade modifications that boost readiness and set the stage for future upgrades.

The Army just dropped a Request for Information (RFI), and they’re not playing small. They’re looking at modifying 12 to 24 UH-60M Black Hawks per year, with possible expansion to HH-60M models and international partners. Translation? This could be a steady, long-term gig for the right team.

UH-60M Full-Body Reboot

So, what would you be doing? Think of it like a full-body reboot. The Army wants these helicopters disassembled, inspected down to the rivet, and any damage or corrosion repaired or replaced. That includes tackling fatigue issues and applying new corrosion prevention measures. Basically, you’re not just fixing old parts, you’re future-proofing an icon.

Then comes the reassembly: repainting (inside and out, per the Army’s ASER Technical Bulletin), running full power-on checks, maintenance operational tests (MOCs), acceptance test procedures (ATPs), ground runs, and maintenance test flights. Oh, and they’ll want your team to have dedicated quality control and a maintenance test pilot on deck—no room for shortcuts.

It’s not just about returning these aircraft to service. It’s about doing it the smart way—through a sustainable, affordable industrial base strategy. As Army Col. Ryan Nesrsta, UHPO project manager, put it: this “modification” effort (formerly called “recapitalization”) is key to both readiness and long-term modernization.

Black Hawk Retirement

And hey, if you’re thinking, “Wait, isn’t the Army moving to Future Vertical Lift?”—sure, eventually. But the Black Hawk isn’t retiring quietly. It’s going to stay central to missions at home and abroad, from troop transport to medevac, for decades. So, while the future unfolds, the Army needs today’s industry to step up and keep the fleet flying strong.

Bottom line? The Army wants to know: What can you do? They’re not asking for bids yet, they’re asking for ideas, capabilities, and confidence. Can your company handle high-quality, repeatable modifications on a scale? Do you have the facilities, expertise, and team to support a long-term sustainment play?

If your answer is “Heck yes,” then it’s time to speak up. This isn’t just another contract opportunity—it’s a chance to help shape the next chapter of one of the most iconic helicopters in military history.

So go ahead—reach out, share your vision, and maybe, just maybe, your shop will be the one keeping the Black Hawk’s blades spinning for years to come.

New Arctic radar system will track low-flying aircraft, ships, and maybe Santa Claus

When you look at a map of the northern approaches to North America, you’re probably picturing a vast, frozen wilderness—snow-capped mountains, endless stretches of sea ice, and the occasional lone ship threading its way through the Gulf of Alaska. It’s a beautiful, remote place, but it’s also a frontier that the United States and its allies have been trying to watch for decades.

From World War II to the 21st Century: A Quick Radar History

Back in the 1950s, the looming threat of Soviet long-range bombers forced the U.S. to ask a simple question: How can we spot a high-flying bomber before it reaches the continent? The answer was the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line, a string of ground-based microwave radars that stretched across Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. Those radars gave early notice of any aircraft cruising at high altitude, buying precious minutes for defensive action.

Fast forward a few decades, and the DEW line has been replaced by the North Warning System (NWS). The NWS still relies on microwave radars, but the technology is modernized, more reliable, and better integrated with today’s command‑and‑control networks. However, there’s a snag: just like its predecessor, the NWS is fundamentally a line-of-sight system. The curvature of the Earth limits its “view” to the horizon, which means low-altitude aircraft or small, fast-moving drones can slip beneath the radar blanket.

The Low‑Altitude Problem: Why It Matters Now

You might wonder why anyone cares about a plane flying a few thousand feet above ice. The answer is threefold:

1. Arctic Shipping is Booming – As climate change thins sea ice, commercial vessels are taking new routes through the Northwest Passage.
2. Military Operations Are Expanding – The U.S., Canada, and NATO are increasing their presence in the region, and adversaries could use low-flying aircraft or unmanned systems to gather intelligence.
3. Search‑and‑Rescue Needs – In emergencies, being able to locate a distressed boat or aircraft quickly can mean the difference between life and death.

All these scenarios demand a radar that can see below the horizon.

Space‑Based Radar and Over‑The‑Horizon (OTH) Radar: Good Ideas, Bad Weather

Engineers have proposed two big ideas to fill the gap:

• Space-based radars that stare down from orbit, and
• Long-range, sky‑wave Over‑The‑Horizon (OTH) radars that bounce signals off the ionosphere.

In theory, both sound perfect. In practice, the Arctic throws a wrench into the works. The region’s extreme cold, constantly shifting ionospheric conditions, and the ever-present solar wind create a hostile environment for radio waves. Signals can be refracted, absorbed, or completely scrambled, making reliable detection a nightmare. That’s where DARPA’s Frosty program steps in.

Enter Frosty: DARPA’s New‑Age Radar Initiative

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released a contract solicitation on Friday detailing a new radar program titled Frosty.

The name might make you think of a snowman, but the goal is anything but fluffy. DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office is leading a 33-month effort to reinvent radar sensing for the Arctic. Here’s what you need to know, broken down in plain English:

• Stand‑off illumination – Instead of trying to “see” directly, Frosty will illuminate the target area from a distance and analyze the faint reflections that bounce back. Think of it as shining a flashlight into a foggy room and reading the subtle glints off objects.
• Cutting-edge signal processing – Advanced algorithms will sift through noisy, distorted data to pull out useful information about low-flying aircraft or slow-moving ships.
• Low power, high coverage – Because deploying massive power plants in the Arctic is impractical, Frosty’s design emphasizes energy-efficient RF (radio‑frequency) techniques that can scan huge swaths of territory without draining batteries.

In short, Frosty aims to give the U.S. and its allies a new set of eyes that can reliably spot what current radars miss, even when the ionosphere is acting up.