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Eight helicopters in the figures available here exceed the roughly 160-knot UH-60M Black Hawk benchmark; the evidence does not establish that all 15 named aircraft do. The list mixes maximum, cruise and combat-mission speeds, so it is a comparison of published figures, not a like-for-like speed trial. The S-97 Raider leads at more than 220 knots, but it is a prototype, not a standard operational fleet helicopter.
What counts as faster than a Black Hawk?
The benchmark here is the UH-60M at about 160 knots, as listed in a 2020 Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments comparison table. It is a practical reference, not a specification for every Black Hawk: the U.S. Army notes that the UH-60A, UH-60L and UH-60M have different performance.
Speed figures also describe different things. Maximum airspeed, cruising speed, maximum cruise and combat-mission speed are not interchangeable. The table identifies the metric reported by each source; its ordering is by the published figure, not by a controlled comparison under identical conditions. Some sources identify a family or model without specifying a more precise subvariant, which is noted rather than guessed.
Eight helicopters with published figures above the benchmark
| Aircraft and variant as identified | Published speed | Metric and source | Role or status |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-97 Raider | More than 220 knots | Lockheed Martin describes this as achievable speed on its S-97 Raider product page (2023); the page does not frame it as a fleet-aircraft speed specification. | Next-generation light tactical prototype with coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller; not a standard operational fleet helicopter. |
| MH-60 Seahawk (Navy H-60 family; a more specific subvariant is not stated with this figure) | 180 knots | Maximum airspeed, U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk fact file. | Naval H-60 helicopter family. |
| Tiger (HA-28) | 175 knots | Cruising speed, Spanish Army equipment data. | Attack helicopter. |
| CH-47F Chinook | 170 knots | Speed listed in the CSBA key-performance table (2020). Separately, an Army aviation report gives 130 knots cruise for CH-47D/F, a different metric. | Heavy-lift tandem-rotor helicopter. |
| Mi-24 Hind (variant not specified in the cited equipment data) | 310 km/h, about 167 knots | High-speed cruise, Czech Ministry of Defence equipment data. This is a cruise figure, not necessarily a never-exceed speed. | Attack helicopter. |
| AH-64E Apache | 164 knots | Maximum combat-mission speed, U.S. Army AH-64E fact sheet (2014). The same fact sheet lists 145 knots for the AH-64D, which is below the benchmark. | Attack helicopter. |
| NH90 (specific variant not identified in the cited performance figure) | 300 km/h, about 162 knots | Maximum cruise at 10,000 kg, NHIndustries performance data (2024). | Military helicopter family; the cited figure is tied to the stated mass. |
| Mi-28N Havoc | 300 km/h, about 162 knots | Maximum speed, as reported by Army Technology. | Attack helicopter. |
Seven additional candidates that are not confirmed faster here
These aircraft appear in comparisons of potentially fast military helicopters, but the available figures do not verify that all seven exceed the UH-60M benchmark. Do not treat them as a ranked set of faster aircraft.
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| Aircraft | What the cited material establishes | What remains unresolved |
|---|---|---|
| CH-53E Super Stallion | A historical comparison chart gives approximately 280 km/h (about 151 knots). | The chart’s test context is not stated here, and the listed conversion is below the roughly 160-knot benchmark. This figure does not establish that the CH-53E is faster than the UH-60M. |
| Ka-52 Alligator | Identified as a candidate in commonly published comparisons. | No variant-specific speed figure is established in the cited material. |
| Z-10 | Identified as a candidate. | An exact official speed figure is unresolved. |
| AW101 Merlin | Identified as a candidate; the family includes transport, utility and naval variants. | No exact variant-specific figure is established here, so the variants should not be collapsed into one speed claim. |
| AW159 Wildcat | Identified as a candidate that may be near or above the benchmark depending on variant and load. | No exact official speed figure is established here. |
| Denel Rooivalk | Identified as an attack-helicopter candidate. | No exact speed figure is established here. |
| AH-1Z Viper | The NAVAIR page cited for this active Marine attack helicopter does not publish a maximum speed. | A variant-specific speed figure is not established by that page. |
Why a heavy-lift helicopter can outpace a utility helicopter
The CH-47F’s 170-knot figure may seem surprising beside a utility helicopter such as the Black Hawk, but helicopter speed is shaped by the design’s rotor system and propulsion, not simply by size or role. The Chinook’s tandem-rotor configuration differs from the Black Hawk’s conventional tail-rotor layout. Its published figure should still be read alongside the metric difference: the CSBA table lists 170 knots, while the Army aviation report lists 130 knots cruise for CH-47D/F.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Speed is only one measure of capability
Attack helicopters such as the Apache and Tiger carry weapons, armor and mission systems that serve combat requirements beyond speed. Heavy-lift, naval and utility aircraft likewise have different payload and mission priorities. A higher published speed alone does not establish greater range, payload, survivability or combat effectiveness.
Quick Recap
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Rank #2
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