Sikorsky receives an additional $234 million to maintain uninterrupted production
The U.S. Army has awarded Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin’s helicopter subsidiary, an additional $234 million under an undefinitized contract action for an initial batch of 16 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
The additional award brings the total value of the contract to $356 million. The agreement is intended to keep the production line active and support the transition to future contracts for the Black Hawk helicopter family.
First aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2028
The 16 helicopters are scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Army in fiscal year 2028, after the current multiyear agreement, awarded in 2022, concludes by the end of fiscal year 2027.
Sikorsky estimates that the follow-on agreement could cover as many as 150 aircraft over the next three to four years. Some of the helicopters could be assigned to the Army National Guard, while others could be provided through foreign military sales.
Funding for the initial 16 aircraft is being drawn from remaining fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 appropriations.
Contract terms remain subject to negotiation
The agreement is classified as undefinitized, meaning its final value, total aircraft quantity and other contractual terms may change as negotiations between the company and the Pentagon continue.
This type of contract allows the Defense Department to begin production before all financial details have been finalized. It also enables the manufacturer to order components and start industrial work without waiting for every contractual provision or congressional funding detail to be fully settled.
Sikorsky has already begun preparing long-lead components
To prevent a gap between the current contract and the next agreement, Sikorsky has already begun ordering hardware and components that require lengthy production and delivery timelines.
The company has also started subassembly work. This process divides construction of the helicopter into smaller manufacturing stages before the components are integrated into the completed aircraft.
The approach is designed to preserve continuity on the production line and reduce the time required to deliver the helicopters once firm orders are in place.
Sikorsky officials described the new agreement as a flexible arrangement designed to support rapid responses. The company said the Army needed an industrial partner capable of contracting quickly, adapting to changing requirements and maintaining continuous production.
Presidential budget request sharply cuts Black Hawk funding
The contract announcement follows the administration’s fiscal 2027 budget request, which included only $39 million for a single UH-60M Black Hawk.
That amount represents a major reduction from the previous year’s request of $913 million.
The House of Representatives has proposed restoring part of the funding. Its version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes an additional $250 million to procure six more UH-60M helicopters. The House defense appropriations bill could provide another $493 million for additional aircraft, although the precise number of helicopters has not been specified.
The Senate has not yet passed its own version of the defense authorization bill. The draft prepared by the Senate Armed Services Committee currently maintains the administration’s proposed funding level.
Army says it is not abandoning the existing fleet
Despite the sharp reduction in requested Black Hawk funding, senior Army leaders have stated that the service does not intend to eliminate its existing helicopter fleet.
The UH-60 Black Hawk remains one of the U.S. Army’s primary airlift and support platforms. The new contract is intended not only to procure additional aircraft, but also to preserve the industrial infrastructure required to sustain continuous helicopter production.
