Black Widow Helicopters

What Black Widow Helicopters does

Black Widow Helicopters is a privately held US LLC that specializes in the modernization, customization, and resale of former military helicopters — primarily the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and the UH-1H Huey — for civilian firefighting, utility, VIP/corporate, and military applications. The company is led by President Barry Oberholzer, who began his aviation career in 2003 and launched a UH-1 modernization program in 2013 before pivoting the business to the Black Hawk platform in 2023 in response to international demand from aerial firefighting operators. Black Widow holds 21 UH-60 Black Hawk airframes ready for its modernization program and operates a state-of-the-art secure hangar facility in Tullahoma, Tennessee, with a registered office in Sheridan, Wyoming.

The company's core technical offering is the Lima+ Upgrade Program, which integrates a Genesys Glass Cockpit (IFR certified, IDU-680 displays), a HeliSAS three-axis autopilot (GRC 3000), Aerometals composite Kevlar Inlet Barrier Filter and Lightweight Exhaust (advertised 50 lb and 172 lb weight reductions respectively), and GPMS Foresight MX HUMS into a unified modernized UH-60 configuration. For the UH-1H platform, Black Widow offers a unique re-engine with the Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67D, claimed to be the only helicopter using this engine, delivering up to 45% operating cost reduction, plus Mil-Spec armed configurations (external wings with Hellfire/DAGR weapons stations, Hydra-70 rocket pods, machine gun pods, and 7.62mm mini-guns). Aircraft sales inventory includes Sikorsky UH-60 variants, a Hawker HS-125-700A jet, and an Agusta Bell 212.

Black Widow generates revenue through three streams: one-time sales of modernized and standard helicopters, project-based modernization and customization engagements, and parts/equipment sales. Go-to-market is enterprise direct sales targeting firefighting operators (Cal-Fire, LA County Fire Department referenced), international military and government agencies, and VIP/corporate clients globally. Maintenance is delivered exclusively through Primehawx (led by Michael Faris, a former Air Force Pave Hawk crew chief), and aircraft tracking is integrated via a partnership with Spidertracks announced in April 2023. The company has 1-10 employees, no disclosed institutional funding, and operates from Wyoming (registered office) and Tennessee (hangar).

Name

Black Widow Helicopters

Legal name

Black Widow Helicopters LLC

Website

https://blackwidowproject.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black Widow Helicopters is a privately held US company that modernizes former UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-1H Huey military helicopters with modern avionics, glass cockpits, and mission-specific equipment for global firefighting, military, and VIP/corporate operators, and trades in helicopter inventory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter Modernization Services

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil/Commercial Helicopter Manufacturing (IMABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military/Defense Helicopter Manufacturing (IMABABAB), VIP/Executive Helicopter Transport (THABAGAH)

Keywords

• Helicopter modernization
• UH-60 Black Hawk
• Aerial firefighting aircraft
• Avionics upgrades
• Aircraft sales and trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Camarillo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Sales (Buying and Selling): Worldwide aircraft sales, acquisitions and trading of helicopters including UH-60 Black Hawks, Hawker HS-125-700A, Agusta Bell 212, and other aircraft. They buy and sell aircraft, offering informed decision-making support and access to qualified buyers and sellers.
2. Helicopter Modernization and Customization: Modernization programs for UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-1H helicopters. Upgrades extend aircraft life for decades at a fraction of the cost of new aircraft. Includes Lima+ upgrade program, mil-spec customization, and mission-specific equipment installations.
3. Parts and Equipment Sales: Sales of helicopter parts and mission-specific equipment including Aerometals IBF and exhaust systems, Genesys glass cockpits, Foresight MX HUMS, and other aviation equipment. Major orders placed with suppliers like Aerometals and GPMS.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Black Widow Helicopters specializes in the modernization and customization of former military UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-1H Huey helicopters into firefighting, utility, VIP, and defense aircraft through its proprietary Lima+ upgrade program and Mil-Spec configurations. The company also brokers worldwide aircraft sales and trading of helicopters and fixed-wing jets, including UH-60 variants, Agusta Bell 212, and Hawker HS-125-700A, supported by an exclusive maintenance partnership with Primehawx at its Tullahoma, Tennessee hangar.

Product overview

Black Widow Helicopters is an aviation company specializing in the modernization and customization of military helicopters, primarily the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and Bell UH-1H Huey, for civilian firefighting and utility missions. Their core offerings include the UH-60 Black Hawk Modernization Program and UH-1H Modernization Program, which upgrade former military helicopters with modern avionics including the Genesys Glass Cockpit (Lima+ upgrade), Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67D engines, and mission-specific equipment. The company also provides Mil-Spec armed configurations for defensive or offensive operations, worldwide aircraft sales and trading services, and maintains an inventory of modernized and standard helicopters including UH-60 variants, Hawker HS-125-700A jets, and Agusta Bell 212 aircraft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lima+: Next-generation technology upgrade program for Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, featuring Genesys Glass Cockpit, HeliSAS Autopilot, Aerometals components, and Foresight MX HUMS.

Products and services

• UH-60 Black Hawk Modernization Program Turnkey modernization program for former Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters into firefighting, utility, VIP, or military mission aircraft, providing 21st-century avionics and mission-specific equipment for the global market of 35+ countries that deploy the Black Hawk.
• Lima+ Upgrade Program Proprietary next-generation upgrade package for the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk combining the Genesys IFR-certified glass cockpit, HeliSAS 3-axis autopilot, Aerometals inlet barrier filter and lightweight exhaust, and GPMS Foresight MX HUMS to enhance flight crew safety, reduce pilot workload, and improve water delivery, search and rescue, and resource management effectiveness.
• UH-1H Black Widow Modernization Program Modernization program for the UH-1H Huey that integrates the Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67D engine (delivering superb power-to-weight ratio, high-altitude top-end performance, and up to 45% reduction in operating cost) with the Genesys Glass Cockpit, composite blades, mission-specific equipment, and first-class airframe upgrades, creating a class-leading performance utility helicopter.
• Mil-Spec Armed Customization Custom armed configuration for Black Hawk helicopters featuring customizable external wings with four weapons stations for Hellfire and DAGR air-to-ground missiles, 19-shot Hydra-70 rocket pods, machine gun pods, 50-caliber cabin-mounted machine guns, and window-mounted 7.62mm mini-guns with fixed forward firing capability.
• Worldwide Aircraft Sales and Trading Worldwide aircraft sales, acquisitions, and trading services providing buying and selling assistance with access to qualified buyers and sellers globally, including current inventory of Sikorsky UH-60L, UH-60A+, UH-60 Lima+ Black Hawks, Hawker HS-125-700A jets, and Agusta Bell 212 helicopters, with flexible options including selling directly to Black Widow's inventory.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 45% reduction in operating costs with UH-1H Black Widow PT6C-67D engine upgrade
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AerometalscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2023Major order announced August 1, 2023 with Aerometals for Inlet Barrier Filter and Lightweight Exhaust systems for UH-60 fleet enhancement. Aerometals provides composite Kevlar IBF construction (50 lbs weight reduction) and lightweight exhaust systems (172 lbs weight reduction) that are standard equipment on Black Widow modernized aircraft.
• SpidertrackscoreTechnology or Integration · 26 April 2023Spidertracks is the market leader in aircraft tracking, fleet management, and aviation safety solutions. Partnership announced April 26, 2023 to integrate Spidertracks tracking and safety technology into Black Widow helicopter offerings, enhancing fleet management and aviation safety capabilities for operators.
• GPMS (Global Power Management Systems)coreTechnology or Integration · 13 April 2023Order for 12 shipsets of Foresight MX HUMS (Health Usage Monitoring System) announced April 13, 2023. These HUMS are installed as standard equipment on Black Widow UH-60 aircraft, providing comprehensive health monitoring capabilities for enhanced safety and maintenance tracking.
• PrimehawxcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExclusive partnership with Primehawx allowing them to provide customers with the best UH-60 maintenance the industry offers. Primehawx was created to serve the needs of the Black Hawk Community. Their President Michael Faris started in the Air Force as a Pave Hawk crew chief with the 56th RQS, then worked as lead mechanic on contracts worldwide including Iraq and Afghanistan. Primehawx works exclusively with Black Widow Helicopters, providing US Army-trained UH-60 technicians for periodic maintenance, heavy maintenance, paint, modifications, flight testing, and training.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Bridger Aerospace: Aerial firefighting operator that has scaled aggressively around climate-driven wildfire demand. Comparable customer archetype (firefighting fleet operators) and signals the demand curve Black Widow's modernization business is positioned to monetize.

Broad incumbents

• Heli-One: One of the world's largest independent helicopter MRO and modification providers, serving offshore, search-and-rescue, and utility fleets. Provides Black Widow's competitive baseline for helicopter modernization scale and certification depth.
• StandardAero: Major aerospace MRO with rotorcraft, engine, and component services including PT6 engine overhauls. Relevant because it offers competing PT6C-67D support and broader helicopter modification capability through its Vector Aerospace business.

Direct peers

• Precision Aviation Group: Helicopter and fixed-wing MRO with component repair and avionics installation services across multiple platforms. Competes for the same helicopter modernization, HUMS integration, and avionics retrofit opportunities Black Widow targets.
• PHI Aviation: Large helicopter services provider with MRO capabilities (Heli-One predecessor) operating S-92 and UH-60 fleets in offshore and utility roles. Benchmark for enterprise helicopter lifecycle, modification, and crewed-services economics.
• Columbia Helicopters: Heavy-lift rotorcraft operator and modifier with a large fleet including Model 234/CH-47 and UH-60 platforms. Comparable in taking military-type airframes and providing missionized aircraft to commercial and government customers.
• Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin): OEM manufacturer of the UH-60 Black Hawk and S-70 platform that Black Widow modernizes. Operates authorized S-70 Firehawk conversions and is the standard against which Black Widow's Lima+ retrofit bundle is positioned.
• HeliMods: Australian specialist in UH-60 Black Hawk customization and Special Forces modifications. Direct competitor in the niche of upgraded Black Hawk solutions for defense, VIP, and utility operators outside the OEM channel.
• DART Aerospace: Designer and manufacturer of helicopter accessories and STC'd modifications (floats, hook kits, engine air filters, exhaust). Adjacent competitor in component-level Black Hawk modernization that Black Widow integrates into its Lima+ package.
• Coulson Aviation: Global aerial firefighting operator that has operated Black Hawk-derived airframes (including Sikorsky S-70 conversions). Directly competes with Black Widow's firefighting modernization pitch to agencies like Cal Fire and LA County Fire.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackwidowproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Widow Helicopters