Australian Army Black Hawk carrying out a troop insertion in the Northern Territory

The Black Hawk S70A-9 is derived from the US Army's principal battlefield mobility helicopter, the UH60 Black Hawk.

Made by Sikorsky, the company founded by Igor Sikorsky, inventor of the world's first helicopter, Australia procured the Blackhawk to provide the Army with a high level of battlefield mobility.

The Black Hawk is faster and more manoeuvrable than the Iroquois, the old workhorse whose rhythmically thumping blades were, for many, synonymous with the Vietnam conflict.

The Black Hawk can carry a full infantry section of 10 compared to the Iroquois' seven man payload while its twin T700-GE-701A turbo shaft engines can push the Black Hawk along at 269 km/h.

Even with one engine out, it can cruise at 117km/h.

Troop movement along East Timor coast

Not only does it have the advantage of twin motors, the Black Hawk provides much greater safety as every essential flying system, such as hydraulic and fuel lines, has a back-up.

The Black Hawk is a multi-role aircraft. Ideally suited to its primary role of providing straight air mobility, the Black Hawk can provide a significant stores lift capacity, carrying items either inside or slung below the aircraft as well as, when required, playing a vital role in community support tasks such as search and rescue and the provision of flood relief.

Another feature of the Black Hawk is its sophisticated avionics package that significantly improves the craft's long range and night navigation capabilities.

This is particularly useful in Australia where forces need to deploy, both day and night, over vast distances.

The Black Hawks are operated by the Australian Army Aviation Corps and are based at Townsville, Queensland.