Sikorsky Secures $234M in Undefinitized Contract Funding for Black Hawk Production

The U.S. Army has awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, an additional $234 million in undefinitized contract action (UCA) to support the initial production of 16 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. This latest funding brings the total contract value to $356 million, ensuring continuity in the defense sector’s premier utility helicopter line as the current multiyear agreement nears its conclusion in late 2027.

According to Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky, the new agreement is crucial for maintaining an active production line and establishing the foundational infrastructure for the future of the Black Hawk fleet. The initial 16 aircraft are slated for delivery to the Army in fiscal year 2028, utilizing leftover appropriations from fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Once the contract is definitized, officials anticipate a potential total of up to 150 aircraft over the next three to four years, with allocations for both the National Guard and international military sales.

The undefinitized nature of the contract allows Sikorsky to commence production and order long-lead-time hardware immediately, bypassing potential delays in congressional appropriations. Jason Wrigley, Sikorsky’s director of business development, highlighted that this agile approach is designed to prevent any disruption in the manufacturing pipeline. “We met the Army where they needed to be… they needed us to contract quickly, and they needed us to maintain continuous production, which to us was a priority,” Benton stated.

This development comes amid shifting budget landscapes. The president’s fiscal year 2027 budget request included $39 million for a single UH-60M Black Hawk, a significant drop from the $913 million requested the previous year. While the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act proposes adding $250 million for six additional helicopters, and the defense appropriations bill suggests an extra $493 million, Army senior leaders have reassured that the service is not planning to phase out its existing Black Hawk fleet.

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