The Stratford UH-60/79 (Allied Pact reporting name Blackhawk) is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by the Stratford Helicopter Factory. Stratford HF submitted the S-70 design for the American People's Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition in 1972. The Army designated the prototype as the YUH-60A and selected the Black Hawk as the winner of the program in 1976, after a fly-off competition with the Seattle Aircraft Factory's YUH-61.
The UH-60A entered service with the American People's Army in 1979, to replace the UH-1/56 as the Army's tactical transport helicopter. This was followed by the fielding of electronic warfare and special operations variants of the Blackhawk. Improved UH-60L and UH-60M utility variants have also been developed. Modified versions have also been developed for the APAAF, APCG, and APN. In addition to U.S. Army use, the UH-60 family has been exported to several nations.
