[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 663 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 663

Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the first delivery of the Sikorsky 
                UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to the Army.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            October 1 (legislative day, September 28), 2018

 Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Nelson) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the first delivery of the Sikorsky 
                UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to the Army.

Whereas, on March 5, 1923, Sikorsky was founded by aircraft engineer Igor 
        Sikorsky, an immigrant to the United States who was born in Kiev, 
        Ukraine;
Whereas, in 1955, Sikorsky opened its doors in Stratford, Connecticut;
Whereas the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was designed to be the primary medium-
        lift helicopter for the Army, with revolutionary design features for 
        combat helicopters, including--

    (1) the ability to absorb high-impact velocities by means of--

    G    (A) a self-sealing fuel system;

    G    (B) crash-resistant stroking crew seats; and

    G    (C) high energy-absorbing landing gear;

    (2) low detectability;

    (3) highly capable nap-of-the-earth flight;

    (4) tolerance to small arms fire up to medium-caliber projectiles;

    (5) hardened flight controls; and

    (6) redundant avionics and hydraulic systems;

Whereas the primary mission of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is as a troop 
        carrier and a logistical support aircraft for air assault missions, but 
        the aircraft may be outfitted to execute medical and casualty 
        evacuation, search and rescue, command and control, armed escort, 
        electronic warfare, external lift, firefighting, and executive transport 
        or VIP missions;
Whereas, on October 31, 1978, the first production UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter 
        was delivered to the Army, and 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of that 
        historic event;
Whereas, beginning in 1976 and ending in 1989, the UH-60A model Black Hawk was 
        in uninterrupted production;
Whereas the UH-60A model Black Hawk was replaced at the end of the 1980s by the 
        more powerful UH-60L model Black Hawk, which was replaced by the even 
        more advanced UH-60M model Black Hawk in 2007;
Whereas, since 1978, Sikorsky has delivered more than 2,300 UH-60 Black Hawk 
        helicopters to the Army, making the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter the 
        backbone of Army aviation;
Whereas, as of April 2018, more than 4,000 H-60 Black Hawk helicopters of all 
        models are in service worldwide in all branches of the Armed Forces and 
        the armed forces of 28 other countries;
Whereas, as of April 2018, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters have flown nearly 
        10,000,000 flight hours, more than 2,000,000 of which have been in 
        combat;
Whereas the 1,000th UH-60M model Black Hawk helicopter will be delivered in 
        October 2018, which highlights the importance that warfighters of the 
        United States place in this venerable aircraft;
Whereas, for 40 years since 1978, the remarkable UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter 
        has--

    (1) fought its way in and out of countless combat zones to deliver and 
extract troops;

    (2) saved thousands of lives as a medical or casualty evacuation 
platform;

    (3) provided critical supplies to troops;

    (4) delivered emergency supplies during natural disasters and 
humanitarian crises; and

    (5) performed as an aerial firefighter and border patroller;

Whereas approximately 4,000 workers in the United States support the UH-60 Black 
        Hawk helicopter program, including in roles of final assembly, paint, 
        engineering, finance, program management, and contracts;
Whereas the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter program has significant presence 
        throughout the United States, including in the States of Alabama, 
        Alaska, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, North 
        Carolina, Texas, and Virginia and;
Whereas Sikorsky is committed to the modernization and sustainment of the UH-60 
        Black Hawk helicopter program since the Army plans to operate the UH-60M 
        Black Hawk helicopter into the 2070s: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the first delivery 
        of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to the Army;
            (2) commends Sikorsky for its commitment to--
                    (A) developing premier rotorcraft such as the UH-60 
                Black Hawk helicopter; and
                    (B) the modernization and sustainment of the UH-60 
                Black Hawk helicopter into the 2070s; and
            (3) pledges robust and continued congressional support for 
        the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
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