Built as a successor to the legendary Huey, the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is currently the United States's primary combat utility helicopter. Its origins lay in the UTTAS (Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System) requirement for an assault transport helicopter which can also perform other roles such as medevac, reconnaissance and troop resupply. It was specifically built to be airlifted by transports such as the C-130 and has a high degree of survivability thanks to features like armor-protected seats, bullet-proof fuel cells, backup systems and rotor blades which can withstand up to 23-mm cannon fire. The UH-60 has also been successfully adapted to a number of secondary roles including electronic counter-measures, special operations, search and rescue (SAR) and carrier-based anti-submarine warfare although perhaps its most famous popular role is as the presidential transport known as Marine One as well as having performed a number of humanitarian and rescue duties in peacetime. The Black Hawk has been exported to a total of 20 countries.

First flight of the YUH-60A prototype took place on 17 October 1974 and was designated S-70 by Sikorsky. The first military variant for the US Army became known as the UH-60A and was subsequently upgraded into the UH-60L with a new powerplant and transmission; it is currently the standard combat assault version in service. For special operations, the MH-60G Pave Hawk (based on the cancelled HH-60D Night Hawk) was introducted featuring advanced avionics, a rescue hoist, as well as defensive equipment, and was eventually developed into an all-weather combat SAR platform known as the HH-60G. Finally, an ECM version used to incercept, monitor and jam enemy communications is designated EH-60C. In naval service, the SH-60B Seahawk is a multi-purpose helicopter capable of performing anti-submarine missions with the aid of a MAD equipment, sonobuoys, and LAMPS Mk. III avionics. It also has a more powerful navalized powerplant, a folding tail pylon, and unarmored seats. Other naval variants include the SH-60F for inner-zone carrier battle group defense, the HH-60H for special warfare support, and the HH-60J Jayhawk for SAR duties by the US Coast Guard.