Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk

"HH-60" redirects here. For the US Coast Guard HH-60J Jayhawk, see HH-60 Jayhawk.
HH-60 / MH-60 Pave Hawk
U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk
Role Combat search and rescue helicopter
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Introduction 1982[1]
Status In service
Primary users United States Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force
Unit cost
US$40.1 million (2011)[2]
Developed from Sikorsky S-70

The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine helicopter in service with the United States Air Force. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program. The HH-60/MH-60 is a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family.

The MH-60G Pave Hawk's primary mission is insertion and recovery of special operations personnel, while the HH-60G Pave Hawk's core mission is recovery of personnel under stressful conditions, including search and rescue. Both versions conduct day or night operations into hostile environments. Because of its versatility, the HH-60G may also perform peace-time operations such as civil search and rescue, emergency aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), disaster relief, international aid and counter-drug activities.

Design and development

In 1981, the U.S. Air Force chose the UH-60A Black Hawk to replace its HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopters. After acquiring some UH-60s, the Air Force began upgrading each with an air refueling probe and additional fuel tanks in the cabin. The machine guns were changed from 0.308 in (7.62 mm) M60s to 0.50 in (12.7 mm) XM218s. These helicopters were referred to as "Credible Hawks" and entered service in 1987.[3]

Afterward, the Credible Hawks and new UH-60As were upgraded and designated MH-60G Pave Hawk. These upgrades were to be done in a two step process. But funding only allowed 16 Credible Hawks to receive the second step equipment. These helicopters were allocated to special operations use. The remaining 82 Credible Hawks received the first step upgrade equipment and were used for combat search and rescue. In 1991, these search and rescue Pave Hawks were redesignated HH-60G.[3][4]

The Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.[5] It features an upgraded communications and navigation suite that includes an integrated inertial navigation/global positioning/Doppler navigation systems, satellite communications, secure voice, and Have Quick communications. The term PAVE stands for Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment.

An HH-60 at the 2007 Paris Air Show

All HH-60Gs have an automatic flight control system, night vision goggles lighting and forward looking infrared system that greatly enhances night low-level operations. Additionally, some Pave Hawks have color weather radar and an engine/rotor blade anti-ice system that gives the HH-60G an all-weather capability. Pave Hawk mission equipment includes a retractable in-flight refueling probe, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, two crew-served (or pilot-controlled) 7.62 mm miniguns or .50-caliber machine guns and an 8,000 pound (3,600 kg) capacity cargo hook. To improve air transportability and shipboard operations, all HH-60Gs have folding rotor blades.

Pave Hawk combat enhancements include a radar warning receiver, infrared jammer and a flare/chaff countermeasure dispensing system. HH-60G rescue equipment includes a hoist capable of lifting a 600-pound (270 kg) load from a hover height of 200 feet (60 m), and a personnel locating system. A number of Pave Hawks are equipped with an over-the-horizon tactical data receiver that is capable of receiving near real-time mission update information.[6]

Operational history

A HH-60 about to refuel from a USAF HC-130P
Sri Lankan relief workers unload vegetables from a HH-60G during an Operation Unified Assistance mission

As of 2015, the U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk is operated by the Air Combat Command (ACC), U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Air Education and Training Command (AETC), the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG). A number of HH-60Gs are also operated by the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) for flight test purposes.[6]

During Operation Desert Storm, Pave Hawks provided combat search and rescue coverage for coalition Air Forces in western Iraq, Saudi Arabia, coastal Kuwait and the Persian Gulf. They also provided emergency evacuation coverage for U.S. Navy sea, air and land (SEAL) teams penetrating the Kuwaiti coast before the invasion.[6]

All MH-60Gs were subsequently divested by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in 1991. At that time, most MH-60Gs were redesignated as HH-60Gs and transferred to Air Combat Command (ACC) and ACC-gained Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard units.[3][4]

During Operation Allied Force, the Pave Hawk provided continuous combat search and rescue coverage for NATO air forces, and successfully recovered two U.S. Air Force pilots who were isolated behind enemy lines.[6]

In March 2000, three Pave Hawks deployed to Hoedspruit Air Force Base in South Africa, to support international flood relief operations in Mozambique. The HH-60Gs flew 240 missions in 17 days and delivered more than 160 tons of humanitarian relief supplies.[6]

Air Force Pave Hawks from the Pacific theater also took part in a massive humanitarian relief effort in early 2005 in Sri Lanka to help victims of the tsunami.[7] In the fall of 2005, Pave Hawks from various Air Force commands participated in rescue operations of Hurricane Katrina survivors, rescuing thousands of stranded people.[6]

Pave Hawks have regularly operated during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and continue to be operated in Operation Enduring Freedom, supporting Army and Marine Corps ground combat operations and standby search and rescue support for U.S. and Coalition fixed-wing combat aircraft supporting those ground operations.[6]

Replacement

In 1999, the USAF identified a need for a helicopter with improved range, speed, and cabin space. An options analysis was completed in 2002 and funding for 141 aircraft under the "personnel recovery vehicle" program began in 2004. In 2005, it was renamed CSAR-X, meaning combat search and rescue. Sikorsky entered the HH-92 Superhawk, Lockheed Martin entered the VH-71 Kestrel, and Boeing entered the HH-47 Chinook. The HH-47 won the competition in November 2006, but the award was cancelled after successful protests from both rival competitors. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was reissued in 2007, but protested again before proposals were received, leading to a second cancellation.[8] In March 2010, the USAF announced a recapitalization plan to return its 99-aircraft inventory to 112 airframes, incrementally replacing aging HH-60Gs; a secondary plan to replace 13 attrition HH-60s, seven of which were lost in combat since 2001, was also been initiated. The USAF deferred secondary combat search and rescue requirements calling for a larger helicopter. A UH-60M-based version was offered as a replacement.[9][10][11]

On 22 October 2012, the USAF issued an RFP for up to 112 Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH) to replace the HH-60G with the primary mission of personnel recovery from hostile territory; other missions include civil search and rescue, disaster relief, casualty and medical evacuation.[12] It had to have a combat radius of 225 nmi (259 mi; 417 km), a payload of 1,500 lb (680 kg), and space for up to four stretchers. The AgustaWestland AW101 was one entrant.[13] By December 2012, competitors AgustaWestland, EADS, Boeing, and Bell Helicopter had withdrawn amid claims that the RFP favored Sikorsky and did not reward rival aircraft's capabilities.[14][15] The USAF argued that the competition was not written to favor Sikorsky, and that the terms were clear as to the capabilities they wanted and could afford. Sikorsky was the only bidder remaining, with subcontractor Lockheed Martin supplying mission equipment and the electronic survivability suite. Sikorsky and the USAF extensively evaluated the proposed CRH-60, a variant of the MH-60 special operations helicopter;[16] the CRH-60 differed from the MH-60 by its greater payload and cabin capacity, wider rotor blades, and better hover capability.[8]

In September 2013, the initial USAF FY 2015 budget proposal would have cancelled the CRH program due to sequestration budget cuts, instead retaining the HH-60 fleet,[17] but Congress stated it would add CRH funding if the USAF could not.[18] Over $300 million was allocated to the program in FY 2014, with $430 million to be moved from other areas through FY 2019 to finance it.[19] On 26 June 2014, the USAF awarded Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin a $1.3 billion contract for the first four aircraft, with 112 total to be procured for up to $7.9 billion.[20] Five more are to be delivered by 2020, the order is to be completed by 2029.[21] On 24 November 2014, the Air Force officially designated the UH-60M-derived CRH as the HH-60W "60 Whiskey."[1]

Variants

Operators

56th Rescue Squadron landing at the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon in 2008.

 Republic of Korea

 United States

Specifications (HH-60G)

Data from USAF 2008 Almanac[5] USAF fact sheet,[6]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Onboard systems

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 USAF toasts Whiskey designation for CRH fleet - Flightglobal.com, 28 November 2014
  2. ↑ "HH-60G Pave Hawk". U.S. Air Force. United States Air Force. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Eden, Paul. "Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk/Seahawk", Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-904687-84-9.
  4. 1 2 Bishop, Chris. Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. Osprey, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84176-852-6.
  5. 1 2 Young, Susan H.H., Staff Editor (May 2008). ""HH-60G Pave Hawk", 2008 USAF Almanac – Gallery of USAF Weapons" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. Air Force Association. 91 (5): 155–156. ISSN 0730-6784.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "HH-60G Pave Hawk". United States Air Force. 4 February 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Gempis, Master Sgt. Val. "Kadena Airmen help Sri Lanka tsunami victims". Air Force Print News, 18 January 2005.
  8. 1 2 Sikorsky eyes federal budget amid uncertainty over combat rescue helicopter - Flightglobal.com, 19 December 2013
  9. ↑ Trimble, Stephen. "USAF abandons large helicopter for rescue mission, proposes buying 112 UH-60Ms". Flight International. 24 February 2010.
  10. ↑ USAF HH-60 Personnel Recovery Recapitalization Program (HH-60 Recap) sources sought notice. fbo.gov, Released" 23 March, Revised: 8 April 2010.
  11. ↑ Reed, John. "UH-60M Offered For USAF's New CSAR Program". Defense News, 15 July 2010.
  12. ↑ Air Force Releases RFP for Next Search And Rescue Helicopter Af.mil, 22 October 2012.
  13. ↑ US Air Force moves forward with CSAR procurement Flightglobal.com, 31 October 2012
  14. ↑ Most contractors opt out of Air Force chopper bids Reuters, 11 December 2012.
  15. ↑ Sikorsky last bidder standing in USAF's combat rescue helicopter battle Flightglobal.com, 12 December 2012.
  16. ↑ U.S. Air Force delays rescue helicopter contract award - Reuters.com, 2 August 2013
  17. ↑ USAF Weighs Scrapping KC-10, A-10 Fleets Defensenews.com, 15 September 2013.
  18. ↑ Aide: Congress Will Fight To Fund Combat Rescue Helo - Defensenews.com, 18 February 2014
  19. ↑ USAF to issue contract to Sikorsky for rescue helicopter - Flightglobal.com, 4 March 2014
  20. ↑ Sikorsky, Lockheed awarded Combat Rescue Helo contract - Militarytimes.com, 26 June 2014
  21. ↑ Sikorsky awarded up to $7.9 billion rescue helicopter deal - Flightglobal.com, 27 June 2014
  22. 1 2 DoD 4120-15L, Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles. US DoD, 12 May 2004.
  23. ↑ Warwick, Graham (27 September 2008). "Level Playing Field?". Flight International. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  24. ↑ http://www.koreadefence.net/wys2/file_attach/2009/10/08/1255007427-9.jpg
  25. 1 2 "World Air Forces 2014" (PDF). Flightglobal Insight. 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "33d Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "41st Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "55th Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  29. ↑ "56th Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  30. ↑ "66th Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  31. ↑ "101st Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  32. ↑ "129th Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "210th Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  34. ↑ "301st Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  35. ↑ "305th Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  36. ↑ "413th Flight Test Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  37. ↑ "512th Rescue Squadron". af.mil. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
Bibliography
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