The HH-60G Pave Hawk is an armed, all-weather day/night CSAR helicopter derived from the UH-60 Blackhawk.
Additional missions include casualty/medical evacuation, disaster and humanitarian response, firefighting, and combat/utility support. The HH-60G is equipped with advanced INS/GPS/Doppler navigation systems, SATCOM, and secure/anti-jam communications, and personnel locating system (PLS) that aids location of a survivor’s radio. It includes automatic flight control, NVG lighting, FLIR, an engine/rotor blade anti-ice system, in-flight refueling probe, additional fuel tanks, and an integral rescue hoist.
Combat enhancements include a full, self-defensive suite and two miniguns (or .50-caliber guns). Major upgrades include Block 162 which encompasses Avionics Communications Suite Upgrade and replaces obsolete systems with color weather radar, improved TACAN, new RWR, auto direction finding, and digital intercoms.
USAF aimed to complete Block 162 upgrades in 2020, and standardize HH-60Us to the same configurations by 2024. Degraded Visual Environment (DVE)/Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) is planned for fleetwide integration starting in FY22. Additional efforts include safety/survivability, data-linking offboard ISR, and mission avionics.
Delivery of the last of 21 Army-surplus HH-60U combat-loss replacements was expected in 2020, with two added airframes increasing the fleet to 116. Both types will be replaced by the HH-60W Jolly Green II currently undergoing testing.
HH-60 Pave Hawk Technical Data
Contractors: Lockheed Martin Sikorsky; Sierra Nevada Corp. (DVE).
First Flight: October 1974.
Delivered: 1982-1998 (HH-60G); 2019-present (HH-60U).
IOC: 1982.
Production: 112 (HH-60G); 19 (HH-60U) (21 planned).
Inventory: 104 (HH-60G); three (HH-60U).
Operator: ACC, AETC, AFMC (HH-60U), PACAF, USAFE, ANG, AFRC.
Aircraft Location: Aviano AB, Italy; Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Francis S. Gabreski Arpt., N.Y.; JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Kadena AB, Japan; Kirtland AFB, N.M.; Moffett Field, Calif.; Moody AFB, Ga.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Patrick AFB, Fla.
Active Variants: •HH-60G. Modified UH-60 helicopter equipped for CSAR. •HH-60U. Converted surplus UH-60L combat-loss replacements.
Dimensions: Rotor diameter 53.6 ft, overall length 64.7 ft, height 16.7 ft.
Weight: Max T-O 22,000 lb.
Power Plant: Two GE Aviation T700-GE-700/701C turboshafts, each 1,560-1,940 shp.
Performance: Speed 184 mph; range 580 miles (farther with air refueling).
Ceiling: 14,000 ft.
Armament: Two 7.62 mm miniguns or two .50-caliber machine guns.
Accommodation: Two pilots, flight engineer, gunner.
Load: Up to three PJs and four non-ambulatory patients.
