New UH-60V Helicopter Enhances U.S. Army Tennessee’s Helicopter Rescue Team Operations.

U.S. Army Tennessee’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (HART) is enhancing its lifesaving capabilities with state-of-the-art aviation technology following a recent upgrade to the UH-60V Black Hawk. According to information released by the U.S. Army on February 13, 2025, the Tennessee National Guard has transitioned from the older UH-60L “Lima” model to the advanced UH-60V “Victor” model, a significant modernization that improves rescue operations in high-risk environments.

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The Tennessee National Guard's UH-60V Black Hawk in action—featuring a fully digital cockpit, enhanced navigation systems, and advanced infrared technology for improved rescue operations in high-risk environments. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

HART (Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team) is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army Tennessee Army National Guard and the Nashville Fire Department, specializing in rapid-response rescues during natural disasters, floods, and other emergencies. The team, which includes National Guard pilots and aircrew alongside Nashville Fire Department paramedics and rescue divers, recently demonstrated its effectiveness in Elizabethton during rescue operations following Hurricane Helene.

Captain Adam McCollum, an operations officer at the Army Aviation Support Facility, emphasized the technological leap provided by the UH-60V, noting that the avionics in the previous UH-60L model date back to 1979. The Lima model relied entirely on traditional gauges with analog dials, requiring pilots to interpret readings manually. In contrast, the new Victor model features a fully digital cockpit with a moving map display, real-time positional awareness, and more intuitive monitoring of engine readings, temperatures, and pressures.

One of the most significant advantages of the UH-60V is its improved navigation and safety features. Pilots previously had to rely on paper maps or basic digital readouts that displayed only heading and distance. Now, they can preload flight plans directly into the system using a removable hardware card, streamlining mission execution and reducing potential errors. Additionally, the Victor model enhances flight safety by decreasing pilot workload and mitigating spatial disorientation, a common hazard where a pilot loses their sense of position, motion, or altitude due to conflicting sensory information.

The UH-60V is also equipped with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) technology, a thermal imaging system that enables pilots to detect heat signatures in low-visibility conditions such as darkness, fog, and smoke. This allows them to track hoist operators and rescue personnel with greater accuracy, ensuring safer and more efficient extractions during emergency missions.

From a technical perspective, the UH-60V is a modernization of the UH-60L, integrating a new digital cockpit similar to that of the UH-60M model, bringing the aircraft in line with current U.S. Army aviation standards. The UH-60V is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines, each producing 1,994 shaft horsepower, allowing for a maximum cruising speed of approximately 280 km/h (150 knots) and an operational range of around 580 kilometers (360 miles) without external fuel tanks. The upgraded cockpit includes the Northrop Grumman Integrated Avionics Suite, featuring a glass cockpit with digital multi-function displays, significantly improving pilot situational awareness.

The UH-60V upgrade extends the operational life of the Black Hawk fleet while reducing maintenance costs by utilizing many of the same mechanical components as the UH-60L. This makes it a cost-effective modernization compared to acquiring new-build UH-60M aircraft. The helicopter retains its external rescue hoist system with a 272-kilogram (600-pound) lift capacity, making it ideal for HART’s mission profile, which includes swift-water rescues and personnel extractions in challenging environments.

With these advancements, the Tennessee HART team is better equipped to conduct both training exercises and real-world rescue missions across the state’s rivers, lakes, and flood-prone regions. The modernization of its Black Hawk fleet ensures that HART can respond more effectively to emergencies, reinforcing its critical role in Tennessee’s disaster response efforts. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the UH-60V’s cutting-edge capabilities will help the team continue saving lives whenever and wherever disaster strikes.