Garmin International has announced that its G5000H® integrated flight deck has been selected for the cockpit modernization of 24 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters operated by the Brazilian Air Force. The program will be executed through Ace Aeronautics, a key integration partner. This selection underscores the growing global adoption of Garmin’s commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) avionics solutions for military rotary-wing upgrades.
The G5000H system brings a transformative, glass-touch cockpit to the legendary Black Hawk platform. Its modular, open systems architecture is designed to seamlessly integrate essential military capabilities, including mission management, stores management, and various military-grade sensors and communications equipment. The core of the system features four high-resolution 12-inch widescreen displays and four touchscreen controllers, engineered for use with flight gloves. This setup provides pilots with two Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) and two Multi-Function Displays (MFDs), offering multi-pane capability to simultaneously view flight data, moving maps, checklists, and weather information.
A key advantage of the G5000H is its ability to significantly reduce pilot workload and enhance situational awareness through advanced synthetic vision and terrain awareness systems. The upgrade includes Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVT™), which presents a realistic 3D depiction of the external environment, and a Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS) for critical audio and visual alerts. The suite is fully equipped with modern Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) capabilities, including a built-in Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out solution and support for ADS-B In traffic and weather data.
“We are proud to partner with Ace Aeronautics to bring this next-generation capability to the Brazilian Air Force,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales. “The G5000H delivers expanded utility, improved safety, and lower lifecycle costs, ensuring these helicopters are equipped for future missions.”
Beyond the core displays, the system supports a wide range of enhanced features for the UH-60, such as WAAS/SBAS navigation, TCAS II for traffic collision avoidance, datalink weather, and interfaces for third-party mission equipment. The program builds on a successful integration precedent, with Ace Aeronautics having completed the first G5000H installation in a UH-60 in 2020. This contract positions Brazil among several respected international military programs that have chosen Garmin’s proven integrated flight deck technology for fleet modernization.
