| HH-60 / MH-60 Pave Hawk HH-60W Jolly Green II | |
|---|---|
 U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk | |
| General information | |
| Type | Combat search and rescuehelicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 112 (HH-60G Pave Hawk)[1] |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1982[2] |
| Developed from | Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk |
TheSikorsky MH-60/HH-60 Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-liftutilitymilitary helicopter manufactured bySikorsky Aircraft. Both are derived from theSikorsky S-70 and theUH-60 Black Hawk; they incorporate the U.S. Air ForcePAVE electronic systems program and are designed for day or night operations into hostile environments.
The MH-60G Pave Hawk's primary mission was insertion and recovery ofspecial operations personnel. The HH-60G Pave Hawk's core mission is recovery of personnel under hostile conditions, includingcombat search and rescue. The HH-60G may also perform peacetime operations such as civil search and rescue, emergencyaeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), disaster relief, international aid and counter-drug activities.
As of the 2020s, the USAF is replacing its HH/MH-60Gs with a new variant, theHH-60W Jolly Green II. Another variant, the HH-60P, is operated by South Korea.
In 1981, the U.S. Air Force chose theUH-60A Black Hawk to replace itsHH-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 7.62 mm (0.308 in)M60s to .50 caliber (12.7 mm)XM218s. These helicopters were referred to as "Credible Hawks" and entered service in 1987.[3]
Afterwards, 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. However, funding allowed only 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 theSikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.[5] It features an upgraded communications and navigation suite that includes an integratedinertial navigation/global positioning/Doppler navigation systems, satellite communications, secure voice, andHave Quick communications. The termPAVE stands for Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment.
All HH-60Gs have an automatic flight control system,night vision goggles lighting andforward looking infrared system that greatly enhances night low-level operations. Additionally, some Pave Hawks have color weatherradar and an engine/rotor blade anti-ice system that gives the HH-60G an all-weather capability. Pave Hawk mission equipment includes a retractablein-flight refueling probe, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, two crew-served (or pilot-controlled) 7.62 mm (0.308 in) miniguns or 0.50-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 aflare/chaffcountermeasure 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]
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 renamedCSAR-X, meaning combat search and rescue. Sikorsky entered theHH-92 Superhawk,Lockheed Martin entered theVH-71 Kestrel, andBoeing entered theHH-47 Chinook. The HH-47 won the competition in November 2006, but the award was cancelled after successful protests from both rival competitors. ARequest for Proposals (RFP) was reissued in 2007, but protested again before proposals were received, leading to a second cancellation.[7] 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 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.[8][9][10]
On 22 October 2012, the USAF issued an RFP for up to 112Combat 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.[11] It had to have acombat radius of 225 nmi (259 mi; 417 km), a payload of 1,500 lb (680 kg), and space for up to four stretchers. TheAgustaWestland AW101 was one entrant.[12] By December 2012, competitorsAgustaWestland,EADS,Boeing, andBell Helicopter had withdrawn amid claims that the RFP favored Sikorsky and did not reward rival aircraft's capabilities.[13][14] 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;[15] the CRH-60 differed from the MH-60 by its greater payload and cabin capacity, wider rotor blades, and better hover capability.[7]
In September 2013, the initial USAF FY 2015 budget proposal would have cancelled the CRH program due to sequestration budget cuts, instead retaining the existing HH-60 fleet.[16][17] Congress allocated over $300 million to the program in FY 2014, with $430 million to be moved from other areas through FY 2019 to finance it.[18] 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 a total of up to $7.9 billion.[19] Five more are to be delivered by 2020 and the order is to be completed by 2029.[20] On 24 November 2014, the Air Force officially designated the UH-60M-derived CRH theHH-60W.[2] It first flew on 17 May 2019.[21] In February 2020, the HH-60W was named the "Jolly Green II" by the USAF.[22] The41st Rescue Squadron received the first two HH-60W helicopters on 5 November 2020.[23]
In July 2025, the U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of up to nine HH‑60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters to Norway, along with associated equipment, training, and support, at an estimated cost of US$2.6 billion. Norway has not signed a procurement contract as of mid-July 2025.[24][25]
As of 2015, theU.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk was operated by theAir Combat Command (ACC),U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE),Pacific Air Forces (PACAF),Air Education and Training Command (AETC), theAir Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and theAir National Guard (ANG). Some HH-60Gs are also operated by theAir Force Materiel Command (AFMC) for flight tests.[6]
During OperationDesert Storm, Pave Hawks provided combat search and rescue coverage for coalition air forces in western Iraq, Saudi Arabia, coastal Kuwait and thePersian Gulf. They also provided emergency evacuation coverage forU.S. NavySEAL teams landing on the Kuwaiti coast before the invasion.[6]
TheAir Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) got rid of its MH-60Gs configured for CSAR operations in 1991, redesignating them as HH-60Gs and giving them to Air Combat Command (ACC) and ACC-gained Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard units. AFSOC ceased all MH-60 operations in 1999.[3][4]
On 29 October 1992, a MH-60G Pave Hawk crashed in theGreat Salt Lake of Utah about 100 yards north ofAntelope Island during a training exercise in bad weather. Twelve members of the Army's75th Ranger Regiment and the Air Force's1st Special Operations Wing died in the accident. The pilot, Air Force Maj. Stephan J. Laushine, was the only survivor.[26]
DuringOperation Allied Force, the Pave Hawk provided continuous combat search and rescue coverage forNATO air forces, and 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]
In early 2005, Air Force Pave Hawks also took part in a massive humanitarian relief effort to help in Sri Lankan victims of thetsunami.[27] In the fall of 2005, Pave Hawks from various Air Force commands helped rescue thousands of stranded survivors ofHurricane Katrina.[6]
Pave Hawks operated duringOperation Iraqi Freedom,Operation New Dawn, andOperation 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.[6]
On 15 March 2018, a CSAR HH-60G crashed near the Iraqi city ofal-Qa'im, killing all seven on board.[28]
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Data from USAF 2008 Almanac[5] USAF fact sheet,[6]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
Modern variants of the HH-60 Pave Hawk incorporate advanced avionics and satellite-based navigation systems to enhance mission effectiveness in complex environments. The aircraft features a fully integrated glass cockpit, GPS/INS hybrid navigation, digital moving maps, and weather radar. These systems enable precision navigation under instrument flight rules (IFR) and in degraded visual environments. Recent upgrades also support performance-based navigation (PBN) and automatic dependent surveillance (ADS-B) for improved situational awareness and interoperability with civil air traffic management systems.[49][50]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
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