U.S. military helicopters are getting an upgrade at the Corpus Christi Army Depot. UH-60 Black Hawks are being configured from a Lima (L-model) to a Victor (V-model) airframe, bringing the choppers into the digital age.
The change was announced at a ceremony Jan. 9 at the Army depot at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Analog operating systems and displays are being replaced with a digital, integrated pilot-vehicle interface in an open-glass cockpit. The UH-60s have served the Army for 40 years, transporting troops and cargo. The newer version will be able to accommodate modern weaponry and is expected to save money and increase communication capabilities.
More than 700 UH-60V Black Hawk helicopters will be reconfigured at the Army depot over the next 10 years.
One of the nation’s premiere helicopter repair facilities, the Corpus Christi Army Depot has been a tenant of the local Naval Air Station since 1961. More than 3,500 people work at the depot. Of those, 2,800 are civilians.