U.S. Army’s Black Hawk helicopters fitted with Universal Avionics FMS to meet FANS, FAA requirements

TUCSON, Ariz. Engineers at Universal Avionics in Tucson, Arizona, are integrating the company’s instrument flight rules (IFR)-capable flight management system (FMS) into U.S. Army Sikorsky HH/UH-60L/M Black Hawk helicopters under the Federated Advanced Navigation System (FANS) program in partnership with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Engineering Development Center (AMRDEC) Prototype Integration Facility (PIF) at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and prime contractor Redstone Defense Systems in Huntsville, Ala.

H-60 rotary-wing aircraft are being fitted with a single UNS FMS with 4-inch Flat Panel Control Display Unit (FPCDU) to meet the FANS program obligation to integrate a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified navigational system that meets Required Navigation Performance Area Navigation (RNP/RNAV) and Global Position System RNAV (GPS/RNAV) requirements in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world.

“Our COTS FMSs facilitate the integration of a solution that allows the Black Hawk to retain all of its mission-critical avionics equipment, while adding new operational capabilities,” says Bob Sanchez, Universal Avionics senior manager, government business development. “Universal’s solution also meets precision navigation mandates that are critical to aircrew safety. To support the unique missions of the Black Hawk, we are providing Night Vision Goggle (NVG)-compatible variants.”

Officials at Elbit Systems with headquarters in Haifa, Israel, have announced their intention to acquire Universal Avionics.

Universal Avionics is a manufacturer of avionics systems offered as retrofit and forward-fit solutions for the largest diversification of aircraft types in the industry. Markets served include business, helicopter, airline (regional/commercial), government/military, special missions, and OEM.

U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center provides increased responsiveness to the nation's warfighters through aviation and missile capabilities and life cycle engineering solutions.