Operated by the US Customs and Border Protection for over three decades, the Black Hawk is the largest, most powerful helicopter used in airborne law enforcement anywhere in the world. The latest additions to the fleet will be 10 former US Army HH-60Ls.
US CUSTOMS AND Border Protection (CBP)’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and its predecessor, the US Customs Service, have operated the medium-lift Black Hawk helicopter since receiving a first Sikorsky UH-60A in early 1983. The AMO currently operates a fleet of 10 UH-60As, six UH-60Ls and four UH-60Ms, which serve as longrange, all-weather, tactical aircraft.
Customs Black Hawks perform a variety of missions including surveillance. However, they primarily conduct air, land and marine interdiction. Additionally, the helicopters are used for special operations, search and rescue, transporting evidence, inserting tactical teams, and for disaster response when required. Internal auxiliary fuel tanks installed in the aft cabin provide the helicopter with an endurance of 4.5 hours or a range of 600 miles (966km).
While CBP acquired its UH-60Ms directly from the Sikorsky factory, the earlier UH-60A/Ls all saw previous service with the US Army. Under the term…
