In addition, customers may select a digital automated flight computer system (AFCS) to simplify pilot workload. The Blackhawk helicopter is equipped with a glass cockpit and digital avionics. The helicopter is flown by a crew of three: the pilot and the co-pilot at the flight deck and one crew member in the cabin.

The new General Electric T700-GE-701D engine (with full authority digital electronic control) is more powerful and provides additional lift during sling load operations. The fly-by-wire glass cockpit has a digitised 1553 bus-based avionics suite with four Rockwell Collins multi-function displays, four-axis fully-coupled autopilot, two Canadian Marconi (CMC) electronic flight management systems, dual Honeywell embedded GPS inertial (EGI) navigation system, digital moving map and Goodrich integrated vehicle health management system (IHVMS). The UH-60M features new wide chord composite spar main rotor blades (which will provide 470lb more lift than the current UH-60L blade), strengthened fuselage and advanced infrared suppression. More than 950 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by 2025.

The UH-60M upgrade completed its maiden flight in August 2008. In December 2007, the US Army ordered 11 low-rate initial production (LRIP) upgrade UH60M. Under this contract six UH-60M utility and 20 HH-60M combat rescue helicopters were ordered in March 2008. Initial operational evaluation (OPEVAL) is underway and a decision on full-rate production of 1,227 helicopters was authorised in December 2007 with the award of a five-year contract. The first of 22 new UH-60Ms was delivered in July 2006. The new-build helicopter entered low-rate initial production (LRIP) in April 2005. The US Army initially decided to opt for new build helicopters rather than upgrade existing airframes. The first flight of the UH60M took place in September 2003 and three helicopters have been delivered for the test programme. In April 2001, the US Army approved an upgrade programme for more than 1,500 Blackhawks to UH-60M standard. The crew seats and the landing gear are energy absorbing. The fuel system is crash-resistant and self-sealing. The helicopter has the ability to absorb high-impact velocities.

US Air Force M116 auxiliary fuel tanks