S-70i Black Hawk helicopter is the latest in the family of Black Hawk multimission aircraft. The helicopter is being built by Poland-based PZL Mielec, a subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft. The S-70i is being offered for international military customers and government agencies.

The S-70i helicopter can be configured according to customer specific missions, including troop transport and air assault, command and control, border patrol, search and rescue, cargo lift and VIP transport. The first S-70i Black Hawk helicopter successfully made its first flight in July 2010.

PZL Mielec delivered the first three S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to an undisclosed launch customer in August 2011.

Sikorsky Aircraft signed a contract with the Brunei Ministry of Defence in December 2011, to supply 12 S-70i helicopters for the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF). The contractual scope also includes the supply of spare parts, training and ground support equipment, plus an option for ten additional helicopters.

Sikorsky delivered five S-70i Black Hawks to the Special Forces unit of the Colombian Army's Air Assault Division in March 2013.

The Colombian Army placed an order with Sikorsky Aircraft for two additional S-70i Black Hawk helicopters in April 2013. The deliveries are scheduled to conclude by October 2013.

The S-70i Black Hawk helicopter has a maximum gross weight of 9,979kg. It can carry two crew members and up to 13 troops.

The reliable crash-worthy airframe design of the S-70i integrates a machined cabin structure and a single-piece cockpit assembly. The structure can resist small-arms fire and high-explosive projectiles. Entry and exit of the crew and troops are provided by two jettisonable cockpit doors and two sliding cargo doors respectively.

The helicopter can be fitted with ballistic protection, an active vibration control system, medical equipment, wire strike protection, Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) system, auxiliary fuel tanks, an external rescue hoist, rappelling equipment and cargo hook.

The glass cockpit of the S-70i features crash-worthy seats for pilot and co-pilot. The fully integrated digital cockpit is equipped with an advanced avionics suite incorporating four ten-inch colour multifunctional displays (MFDs), a dual digital automatic flight control system and coupled flight director and flight management system (FMS).

The navigation and communication systems include a dual embedded GPS/INS system with digital map, two UHF/VHF AM/FM radios, automatic direction finder, VOR/ILS and three-station crew digital inter-communication system (ICS).

The cabin of the S-70i is equipped with multifunctional 300psi cabin flooring and internal sound-proofing panels. The flexible design of the cabin allows for quick modifications to meet the mission requirements. The seating can be removed to accommodate cargo and supplies. The spacious cabin offers an area of 8.1m².

The baseline S-70i helicopter comes with no standard armament fit out. The new-build S-70i helicopters or existing platforms can be integrated with Battlehawk system. The system encompasses machine guns, 70mm rocket launchers, air-to-ground laser missile system, helmet-mounted sight, external gun mounting system and external stores weapon system.

The S-70i Black Hawk is powered by two T700-GE701D turboshaft engines equipped with C controls.

Each engine develops a maximum power of 1,447kW. The twin-engine power plant drives the main rotor comprising of four composite-titanium blades.

The fuel system is composed of two crash-worthy and self-sealing fuel tanks. The single-point service connection allows close circuit and pressure refuelling.

The S-70i Black Hawk features a three-point dual OLEO landing gear with energy absorbing features.

The rugged landing gear allows the landing and take-off from virtually any unprepared terrain.

The S-70i can fly at a maximum cruise speed of 277km/h. The AEO (All Engines Operating) service ceiling of the helicopter is 13,200ft. The helicopter has a maximum range of 459km with no reserve.