Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk
| HH-60 Jayhawk | |
|---|---|
| |
| HH-60J at CGAS Astoria, Oregon | |
| Role | Search and rescue (SAR) helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary user | United States Coast Guard |
| Number built | 42 |
| Developed from | HH-60H Rescue Hawk |
The Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk is a twin-engine medium-range search and rescue (SAR) helicopter. It is based on the HH-60H Rescue Hawk,[1] which is a special variant of the US Navy's SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. Besides SAR, the HH-60 is used for drug interdiction, cargo lift, and special operations. It was developed for the United States Coast Guard to replace the aging Sikorsky Aircraft HH-3F Pelican in 1986.
Design and development
The HH-60J Jayhawk development began in 1986 based on the HH-60H Rescue Hawk airframe. The Jayhawks were delivered to the US Coast Guard in the early 1990s. The HH-60J has a radar for search/weather that gives its nose a distinctive look. A forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor turret can be mounted below its nose. It can carry three 120 US gal (454 L) fuel tanks with two on the port side rack and one on the starboard side rack. The starboard also carries a rescue hoist with a 600 lbf (2.67 kN) capability mounted above the door.[2] The hoist has 200 ft (61.0 m) of cable.
The Jayhawk has a 6,460 lb (2,930 kg) fuel capacity allows it to operate for 6.5 hours within a 300 nmi (556 km) radius.[3] The helicopter is not able to perform water landings as was its amphibious HH-3F Pelican predecessor.[4]
A total of 42 Jayhawks were built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation with 35 in operation and another 7 in storage or support roles.[4]
The HH-60Js began an upgrade program to convert them to medium range responder helicopters in January 2007, and will be redesignated as MH-60T. The program, called the Deepwater Program, will provide a glass cockpit and other upgrades.[5] The MH-60T is modified with an airborne use of force package, including weapons for firing warning and disabling shots, and armor to protect the aircrew from small arms fire. Three Jayhawks have been upgraded to MH-60Ts as of June 2009.[6]
Operational history
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion with: Add content on operational use. You can help by adding to it. (September 2009) |
Variants
- HH-60J
- Medium range search and rescue (SAR) helicopter.
- MH-60T
- Medium range responder helicopter. HH-60J modernized and used as armed responders for offshore operations.[5]
Operators
Specifications (HH-60J)
Data from USCG page[4] USCG features[3] Sikorsky S-70B,[7][8] Globalsecurity page[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, two flight crew)
Performance
Armament
- 2x 7.62 mm (0.30 in) M240B medium machine guns Or
- 2x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 heavy machine gun forward of doors.
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- ^ Leoni 2007, p. 212.
- ^ Leoni 2007, p. 213.
- ^ a b Medium Range Recovery Helicopter features, US Coast Guard, 13 December 2007.
- ^ a b c HH-60 "Jayhawk" Medium Range Recovery Helicopter. US Coast Guard, 5 February 2008.
- ^ a b Aviation Update newsletter. US Coast Guard, January/February 2007.
- ^ "Acquisition Update: “T” It Up: First Production MH-60T Medium Range Recovery Helicopter Delivered to Coast Guard". US Coast Guard, June 9, 2009.
- ^ S-70B Seahawk Technical Information, 2001
- ^ S-70B Seahawk Technical Information, 2008, Sikorsky.com
- ^ HH-60 Jayhawk. globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- Leoni, Ray D. Black Hawk, The Story of a World Class Helicopter, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2007. ISBN 978-1-56347-918-2.
- Tomajczyk, Stephen F. Black Hawk, MBI, 2003. ISBN 0-7603-1591-4.
External links
