The Los Angeles County Fire Department has placed an order with Sikorsky for two additional S-70i Firehawk firefighting helicopters.
In a year that brutally demonstrated the threat that wildfires pose to the cities and towns of Los Angeles County, USA, the County’s Fire Department has chosen to expand its existing fleet of firefighting aircraft with two brand new Sikorsky helicopters. Announced by Lockheed Martin, parent company of Sikorsky, on Oct. 29, 2025, the helicopters will join the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) fleet of five existing Sikorsky S-70s and three Bell 412s.
“The Firehawk helicopter has been the cornerstone of our aerial firefighting capability for more than two decades,” noted Anthony C. Marrone, Fire Chief for the County of Los Angeles. “Adding two more proven platforms enhances our ability to respond to all types of emergency situations across the county and contain wildfires before they get out of control, even under the most challenging conditions.”
Wildfires don’t wait — and neither do we.
The County of Los Angeles announced a contract for two new Sikorsky S‑70i FIREHAWK® helicopters to boost 24/7 wildfire, rescue and medical missions across 4,000 sq. miles.
That’s rapid and reliable response when it matters most. pic.twitter.com/WQrEIVldIU
— Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) October 30, 2025
S-70 is Sikorsky’s own model number for the helicopter known under the U.S. Mission Design Series designation H-60, forming the basis for both the UH-60 Black Hawk and SH-60 Seahawk families of helicopters. The S-70i Firehawk is the newest example in the lineup of a dedicated aerial firefighting variant, boasting a 1,000 gallon/3,785 litre water tank that can be filled through a retractable snorkel in less than one minute. Just like many military variants, the Firehawk comes equipped with night vision compatible flight controls, allowing safe and reliable operation in both day and night conditions.
In addition to the aircraft’s firefighting capabilities, the Firehawk is able to act in a medical evacuation role and also features a hoist rescue system. In a pure transport role, a Firehawk can airlift up to eleven fully equipped firefighters into and out of active firefighting areas. Cargo can also be secured in the aircraft cabin, allowing for supply runs to remote firefighter teams or the airlift of emergency aid to remote locations.
The original Firehawks were developed with Los Angeles County in mind, the fire departments of the county having proposed the idea to Sikorsky. This direct link between the operator and manufacturer has helped the Firehawk continually evolve to meet changing needs and leverage new technologies as they emerge.
Seven firefighting agencies across California operate the Firehawk today – the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), County of Los Angeles Fire Department, Kern County Fire Department, Orange County Fire Authority, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and the Ventura County Fire Department. Two aircraft are also operated in Colorado by the state’s Department of Public Safety.
Today marks a major milestone for CAL FIRE’s aviation program, recognizing the delivery of two additional Sikorsky S-70i FIREHAWK helicopters, bringing our fleet to 16.
CAL FIRE is home to the world’s largest FIREHAWK fleet. pic.twitter.com/Bnq1kXLnfA
— CAL FIRE Chief (@CALFIRE_CHIEF) July 31, 2025
Rich Benton, Vice President and General Manager of Sikorsky, said “We appreciate the confidence that the County of Los Angeles Fire Department places in Sikorsky to advance its lifesaving mission. These new helicopters reinforce a partnership that began in the late 1990s and continues to set the standard for aerial wildfire and emergency response around the globe.”
After Sikorsky produces the base S-70 aircraft, United Rotorcraft in Colorado then take the airframe and convert it to Firehawk standard. United Rotorcraft are the exclusive worldwide provider of this service, and recently secured an international contract with Colombia to produce two Firehawks using UH-60L Black Hawk airframes. This is the first overseas order for the S-70i Firehawk.
A buddy of mine with Orange County Fire Authority just sent me these videos from their S-70 Firehawk helicopter doing water drops over Palisades fire.
These firefighters are doing incredible, brave work 24/7. pic.twitter.com/qTL7v76WnA
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) January 12, 2025
Firehawks flew alongside fixed-wing firefighting aircraft during the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County early in 2025. Massive fires, some of which are thought to have been started deliberately, took hold of over 50,000 acres of land. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed in the region, including in the prominent Altadena and Pacific Palisades neighborhoods. While helicopter-based firefighting systems cannot compete with the sheer capacity of many fixed wing types, they make up for their lower capacity with versatility and the ability to deliver extremely precise, targeted drops on very small areas.
In the coming years it’s likely that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will become ever more present in aerial firefighting operations. A significant amount of trials for this use have already been carried out. As the platform matures, it may be an area that Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin choose to target when marketing their new U-Hawk product.
