Sikorsky HH-60W production moves forward

Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky will build 12 additional HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH) following a second low rate initial production (LRIP) contract award by the U.S. Air Force valued at more than $500 million. The Lot 2 award follows a string of program milestones in 2019, including first flight, a Milestone C decision by the Air Force, and award of the first Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for 10 aircraft. The HH-60W is based on the UH-60M Black Hawk and customized for the U.S. Air Force's rescue mission.

Currently, seven CRH aircraft are in flight testing, two of which are with the Air Force at Duke Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. All aircraft support the path toward required assets available (RAA) in 2020. LRIP Lot 1 aircraft assembly is already underway.

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett assigned the HH-60W the name Jolly Green II during the annual Air Force Association (AFA) Air Warfare Symposium.

"We respect the long tradition of assigning a moniker that communicates the combat search and rescue (CSAR) mission. Jolly Green II is a fitting tribute to its history and to airmen and women worldwide," said Dana Fiatarone, Sikorsky's vice president, Army and Air Force Systems. "The name is greatly respected by our workforce – past and present – and it's an honor to build this critical aircraft for the Air Force."

The HH-60W CRH hosts a fuel system that nearly doubles the capacity of the main fuel tank on a UH-60M Black Hawk, giving the Air Force crew extended range and more capability to rescue those injured in battle. The HH-60W specification includes more capable defensive systems, vulnerability reduction, weapons, cyber-security, environmental, expanded adverse weather sensor capabilities, and more comprehensive net-centric requirements than currently held by the predecessor HH-60G Pave Hawk.

The U.S. Air Force program of record calls for 113 helicopters to replace the Pave Hawks, which perform critical CSAR and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services. A total of nine aircraft will be built at Sikorsky's Stratford, Connecticut, facility during the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the program – four EMD aircraft and five system demonstration test articles (SDTA).