The HH-60W is an armed, all-weather day/night CSAR helicopter fielded to replace the HH-60G. The type is derived from the UH-60M Blackhawk and dubbed “Jolly Green II” in honor of the Vietnam-era HH-3 and HH-53.
Additional missions include casualty/medical evacuation, disaster and humanitarian response, firefighting, and combat/utility support. The HH60W features a fully digital glass cockpit, improved hot weather/high-altitude performance, onboard self-defenses capable of defeating higher-end threats, increased usable cabin space, and double the internal fuel capacity of the HH-60G.
Features include digital RWR, laser/missile/ hostile fire warning, integrated chaff/ flares, cabin and cockpit armor, externally mounted 7.62 mm and .50 cal weapons, LINK 16, SADL, integrated cockpit/cabin displays, advanced comms, ADSB, tactical moving map displays, upturned IR-masking exhausts, and efficient wide-chord rotor blades.
USAF awarded Sikorsky Aircraft the $1.28 billion Combat Rescue Helicopter contract to replace the HH-60G on June 26, 2014. USAF revised its accelerated procurement plan to buy a total of 75 HH-60Ws over five lots (decreased from a planned 113 aircraft) which Congress amended to a total of 85 airframes in FY24, adding a possible two aircraft in FY25.
USAF accepted the first production aircraft from Sikorsky on May 18, 2021, FY25 launches the Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) system to prevent disorientation during takeoff and landing as part of the HH-60W’s first major capability upgrades. Development includes jam-resistant GPS, MUOS next-generation SATCOMS integration, and software and airspace compliance updates. Distributed Aperture IR Countermeasures (DAIRCM) to counter modern missile threats has suffered delays and is now projected for FY29 or beyond.
Future capability enhancements include Video Data Link (VDL), improved Blue Force Tracker, and integrated system diagnostics. The service is also exploring options to merge the platform’s various sensor-related interface to save airframe weight.
USAF approved full-rate production and shifted to full operational testing at Nellis. Current tests are validating corrections to identified deficiencies, integrating the .50-cal weapon, and verifying low-visibility hover instrumentation. Aviano, Davis-Monthan, Francis S. Gabreski Arpt., Moffett, and Kadena received their first HH-60Ws in the last year, continuing the phase out of the HH-60G.
HH-60 Jolly Green II Technical Data
Contractor: Lockheed Martin Sikorsky.
First Flight: May 17, 2019.
Delivered: 2019-present.
IOC: 2022 (planned).
Production: 113 (planned).
Inventory: 16.
Operator: AFMC. Planned: ACC, AETC, PACAF, USAFE, ANG, AFRC.
Aircraft Location: Duke Field, Fla.; Kirtland AFB, N.M.; Moody AFB, Ga.
Planned: Aviano AB, Italy; Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; Francis S. Gabreski Arpt., N.Y.; JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Kadena AB, Japan; Moffett Field, Calif.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Patrick AFB, Fla.
Active Variant: •HH-60W. Developmental next-generation Combat Rescue Helicopter based on the UH-60M.
Dimensions: Rotor diameter 53.6 ft, overall length 64.7 ft, height 16.7 ft.
Weight: Max T-O 22,500 lb.
Power Plant: Two GE Aviation T700-GE-701D turboshafts, each 1,857 shp.
Performance: Speed 176 mph; range 690 miles (air refuelable).
Ceiling: 20,000 ft.
Armament: Two 7.62 mm miniguns or two .50-caliber machine guns.
Accommodation: Crew: two pilots, flight engineer, gunner.
Load: Mission dependent.
