First Sikorsky combat rescue helicopter enters final assembly

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is beginning final assembly of the first HH-60W combat rescue helicopter for the U.S. Air Force at Stratford, Connecticut. The timing of final assembly supports the program's accelerated schedule and positions the aircraft's first flight for the end of this year, two months ahead of schedule.

"Final assembly of this first HH-60W helicopter marks a significant milestone for Sikorsky, our workforce, and the U.S. Air Force," said Tim Healy, director of Sikorsky Air Force programs.

The final assembly process includes installation of the new Tactical Mission Kit (TMK) delivered from Lockheed Martin's Owego, New York, facility. The integration of sensors, radar, and multiple defense systems will bring added intelligence into the cockpit, giving pilots more information to make split second decisions to complete the mission.

"The HH-60W will be the most thoroughly networked and connected vertical lift platform ever produced," Healy said. "The HH-60W allows the entire suite of air and space power to be linked and employed in support of combat rescue operations, even in deep and denied territory."

Final assembly involves installation of dual internal fuel tanks totaling 660 gallons, nearly doubling the capacity of the internal tank on a UH-60M Black Hawk, giving the U.S Air Force crew greater range.

This Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) aircraft is the first assembled at Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut. Nine aircraft will be built in Connecticut during the EMD phase of the program – four EMD aircraft and five System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA).

The U.S. Air Force program of record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.

The $1.5 billion EMD and SDTA contract includes development, system integration, and delivery of nine HH-60W helicopters as well as six aircrew and maintenance training devices, and instructional courseware designed for the HH-60W aircraft. Sikorsky successfully conducted the training systems design review in September, 2017.