Avionics group Rogerson Kratos (Hall 2, Stand A59) is unveiling its modernized Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter cockpit solution here at the Farnborough International Airshow in the form of an interactive cockpit demonstrator. According to the California-based company, its digital avionics package for the A and L model Black Hawks replaces the analog gauges with the most affordable avionics upgrade currently available, giving operators a low risk solution based on an OEM-proven hardware baseline.

The new cockpit upgrade, which features four multifunction displays, is intended for military aircraft in the U.S. and is also available to foreign operators without the need to bring the helicopter back to the U.S. for installation. The main case for the upgrade, according to Rogerson Kratos, is to give operators the option to affordably upgrade their Black Hawks, while also being able to have improved situational awareness and safety in dust brownout conditions and other degraded visibility environments. Situational awareness options include degraded visibility environment mitigation (DVEM) and distributed aperture systems (DAS).

Starting this fall, the system will be validated in an extensive test program involving three upgraded UH-60A model helicopters, aimed at securing both type certification of the upgraded aircraft and supplemental type certification covering the avionics equipment. With its open avionics architecture that takes account of requirements such as Future Airborne Capability Environment, DO-178C certifiable software and Arinc-653 partitioned software design, the Black Hawk modernization solution allows operators the flexibility to buy the basic modernization first and add additional mission roles with field software upgrades as the operator’s priorities change.

The new system includes compatibility with the General Electric 700, 701C and 701D engines and meets global air traffic management standards for the year 2020 and beyond. Rogerson Kratos (Hall 2 Stand A59) was a pioneer in flat panel primary flight displays, with the first FAA certification of electronic flight instrument system (EFIS), the first helicopter certified flat panel EFIS and the first certified helicopter integrated EFIS and EICAS. o