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 MH-60L
The MH-60 Special Operations Aircraft (SOA) is the 160TH Special Operations Aviation Regiment long-distance, low-level penetration helicopter, which is equipped with aerial refueling capability, a fast-rope rappelling system and other upgrades or operations-specific equipment. The Army bought 23 of the advanced MH-60K and 37 of the MH-60L Blackhawk helicopters, and has lost todo: complete: -- two MH-60L during Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia, ... US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) aircraft contribute to the Joint Vision 2010 concept of dominant maneuver by helping to create asymmetric advantages for combined application of land, air, and sea power against enemy defenses within the joint environment. They are eminently capable, as modernized, multi-mission platforms operating within tailor-to-task organizations, of supporting precise, agile, fast-moving joint operations.
The three versions of the H-60 in the Army inventory are the UH-60L, the MH-60L, and the MH-60K. The MH-60L and the MH-60K are air refuelable. Previously, about 30 modified UH-60A's were used by the US Army's Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) from the early 1980's as low-level transports. These aircraft, dubbed MH-60A, were equipped with improved navigation, SATCOM, and EW systems, entered service beginning in 1984 and remained in use by reserve forces. The MH-60 conducts overt and covert infiltrations, exfiltrations, and air assault operations over a wide range of environmental conditions. The aircraft can perform a variety of other missions including shipboard operations, platform operations, urban operations, water operations, parachute operations, and combat search and rescue operations. With the use of special mission equipment and night vision devices, the air crew can operate in hostile mission environments over all types of terrain at low altitudes during periods of low visibility and low ambient lighting conditions with pinpoint navigation accuracy. MH-60L  MH-60L
The MH-60L Blackhawk is a modified UH-60L with an integrated cockpit, upgraded engines, aerial refueling capability, forward looking infrared (FLIR), terrain following/terrain avoidance (TF/TA) radar, upgraded navigation and communication systems, integrated aviation support equipment (ASE), and external rescue hoist. Included with other modifications is an increased fuel capacity with internal and external auxiliary fuel tanks. The aircraft has modified integrated avionics suites and multi-mode, colour radars and is intended to provide adverse-weather infiltration/exfiltration and support to US Military Forces, country teams, other agencies and special activities.The MH-60L helicopters are used for long range penetration missions. The MH-60L is required to complete a covert mission over a 200-nm (370-km) radius, at low level, day or night, in adverse weather, over any type of terrain, and do so with a high probability of success. Two General Electric T700-GE-701C engines rated at over 1,800 Shaft-horsepower were added, along with a 3,400 SHP Improved Durability Gearbox. The primary role of the MH-60L is the insertion and/or extraction of up to 12 man Special Operations Teams. The MH-60L cockpit retains a large commonality with the standard UH-60L, with the exception of the addition of two large, colour, multi function displays. These displays, one each for the pilot and co-pilot, provide readouts from the navigation systems, or from the nose-mounted FLIR or radar. The multi function displays can also display critical engine and aircraft system information, providing the crew with clear indication of any problems with the aircraft. 
A total of 37 MH-60L were produced for the 160TH SOAR. All of the Special Operations MH-60L Blackhawks are modernized aircraft, having been converted from UH-60L airframes. Delivery of the 37th MH-60L to the 160TH Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) took place in May 1991. The 160TH has been operating the new rotorcraft since early 1990.
MH-60K  MH-60K
The MH-60K's integrated avionics system (IAS) permits global communications and navigation. The IAS is the most advanced system of its kind ever installed in a U.S. Army helicopter. The IAS includes forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and multimode radar for nap-of-the-earth and low level flight operations in conditions of extremely poor visibility and adverse weather. The Army requires MH-60K and MH-47E avionics systems to be common and interchangeable. Critical IAS components - basic radios, mission computers and multifunction displays, for example - can be exchanged between an MH-60K and an MH-47E in minutes. Switching avionics between different makes and models of aircraft is unique. This capability means that missions conducted far from normal supply channels have a much higher probability of successful completion. One system fielded largely because of the Army's Airborne Engineering Evaluation Support Branch research efforts is the Personnel Locator System. It allows search and rescue aircraft to find downed crewmembers without giving away the aviator's location. One of AEESB's most important projects was a prototype for the 'glass cockpit' in special operations aircraft. Most aircraft cockpits contain lots of buttons, gauges and dials that can be very confusing. AEESB's 1985 tests of a digital avionics system led to digital cockpits in the MH-60K Black Hawk and MH-47E Chinook special operations aircraft. The 'glass cockpit' basically replaces all the many instruments with computer screens. The MH-60K and MH-47E special operations helicopters are fielded with the digitized cockpits. The desktop trainer is an interactive software program that supplements the MH-60K and MH-47E manuals. It's used to familiarize transitioning pilots to the 'glass cockpits' of these two SOF airframes.  The MH-60K Cockpit features high comonality with the 160TH MH-47E Chinook Helicopters. This provides a higher degree of dependability when deployed in the field.
A total of 23 MH-60K have been produced for the 160TH SOAR. All of the Special Operations MH-60K Blackhawks are new build aircraft. Delivery of the 1st MH-60K to the 160TH Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) took place in June 1992. The 160TH has been operating the new rotorcraft since 1994.
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