The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter, first flew on October 17, 1974. It became the primary utility and assault helicopter for the US Army, replacing the UH-1 Iroquois. The Black Hawk has been used extensively in conflicts from Grenada to Afghanistan, becoming an iconic military helicopter.

The Black Hawk helicopter became a symbol of modern warfare, especially during the Gulf War and the conflict in Somalia. It was immortalized in the book and film 'Black Hawk Down,' which described a disastrous 1993 mission. The helicopter's name and the heroic connotation of the 'Black Hawk' often appear in poetry and literature of contemporary conflicts.