Trakka to provide searchlight for Black Hawk

Trakka Systems has been awarded a contract by Sikorsky to supply its high intensity, multi-mission TrakkaBeam A800 searchlight for the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

‘We are extremely pleased that the TrakkaBeam has, again, been chosen for an international search and rescue helicopter programme,’ Glen Rowling, VP of business development for Trakka Systems, said. 

‘We look forward to supporting Sikorsky on this programme and future programmes to come.’

 The TrakkaBeam A800’s optical design utilises lamp technology requiring half the power of traditional searchlights, the company says, delivering a more intense and consistent beam where needed.  

Additionally, the precision design of the optical elements in relation to the lamp’s arc source is responsible for the effective collimation and reduction of stray light. 

This design eliminates the black hole in the wide field of view and the bright spot generated in the centre of the narrow field of view previously experienced in conventional mirror-reflector searchlights, while providing an even beam with energy all the way to the edges, resulting in less lost targets.

The A800 includes an embedded in-flight, multi-filter solution, and up to six different filters can be activated at the touch of a button from inside the cockpit. 

These filters can range from covert infrared to soft red to amber, and the different filter options reduce the glare from fog, snow or moisture, and can enhance natural colour in the target field. 

This internal design reduces bulk, weight, and costly maintenance, and allows for greater mission capabilities, as flight speed does not have to be reduced for filter change.

The A800 system has been tested and certified to DO-160F standards by internationally recognised laboratories in the US, Germany and Australia, and has been qualified by all major helicopter OEMs.