Air Force combat search and rescue has come up with a creative way to free up space in the crowded cabins of their HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters—attach an inflatable rubber raft to the helicopter’s undercarriage. Called the kangaroo duck—for its resemblance to a kangaroo’s joey pouch—the rubber raft provides extra storage space for weapons and supplies and also streamlines water rescue operations. After analyzing lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, the CSAR community discovered they needed the ability to deliver boats to flooded areas—without hogging space in the cabin. “The K-Duck concept alleviates this dilemma, while adding an extra ‘pouch’ to store equipment,” said Lt. Col. Terry Johnson, 38th Rescue Squadron commander. Lt. Col. Lee Pera, 347th Rescue Group deputy commander, added that although the pouch adds up to 1,500 pounds when fully loaded, “there is very little effect on the flying quality.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
