HH-60 Pave Hawk

Infobox Aircraft
name= HH-60 Pave Hawk


caption=USAF HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter
type=Combat Search and Rescue helicopter
manufacturer=Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
primary user=United States Air Force
status=Active: 68
Reserve: 15
ANG: 18cite journal | last = Mehuron| first = Tamar A., Assoc. Editor | title = "2008 USAF Almanac" - Equipment | journal = AIR FORCE MAGAZINE, Journal of the Air Force Association | volume = 91 | issue = 5 | pages = p. 60 | month = May | year = 2008 | publisher = Air Force Association | url = http://www.afa.org/magazine/may2007/ | format = | id = ISSN: 0730-6784 | accessdate = "All figures, as of 30 Sept 2007." ]
unit cost=US$15.8 million
developed from = Sikorsky S-70
variants with their own articles=

The Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter in service with the United States Air Force. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The HH-60's primary function is to conduct day or night combat search and rescue operations into hostile environments to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war. Because of its versatility, the HH-60G may also perform peace-time operations. Such tasks include civil search and rescue, emergency aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), disaster relief, international aid, counter-drug activities and NASA space shuttle support.

Design and development

In 1981, the U.S. Air Force chose the UH-60A Black Hawk to replace its HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopters. After acquiring the 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 M60s to 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M218s. These were referred to as "Credible Hawks" and entered service in 1987.Eden, Paul. "Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk/Seahawk", "Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft". Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1904687849.]

Afterwards the Credible Hawks and new UH-60As were upgraded and designated MH-60G Pave Hawk. These upgrades were to be down in a two step process. But funding only allowed 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, the search and rescue Pave Hawks were redesignated HH-60G.Bishop, Chris. "Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk". Osprey, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84176852-6.]

The Pave Hawk is a highly-modified version of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.cite journal | last = Young | first = Susan H.H., Staff Editor | title = "HH-60G Pave Hawk", "2008 USAF Almanac" - Gallery of USAF Weapons | journal = AIR FORCE MAGAZINE, Journal of the Air Force Association | volume = 91 | issue = 5 | pages = pp. 155–156 | month = May | year = 2008 | publisher = Air Force Association | url = http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2008/May%202008/0508weapons.pdf | format = pdf | id = ISSN: 0730-6784 ] It features an upgraded communications and navigation suite that includes an integrated inertial navigation/global positioning/Doppler navigation systems, satellite communications, secure voice, and Have Quick communications.

All HH-60Gs have an automatic flight control system, night vision goggles lighting and forward looking infrared system that greatly enhances night low-level operations. Additionally, some Pave Hawks have color weather radar and an engine/rotor blade anti-ice system that gives the HH-60G an all-weather capability.

Pave Hawk mission equipment includes a retractable in-flight refueling probe, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, two crew-served (or pilot-controlled) 7.62 mm miniguns or .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 a flare/chaff countermeasure 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 that is compatible with the PRC-112 survival radio and provides range and bearing information to a survivor's location.

A limited 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.Fact|date=May 2007

Operational history

The U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk is operated by the Air Combat Command (ACC), U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Air Education and Training Command (AETC), the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG). [http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=107 HH-60G Pave Hawk Factsheet] . United States Air Force. July 2006. Accessed May 14, 2007.]

During Operation Desert Storm, Pave Hawks provided combat search and rescue coverage for coalition Air Forces in western Iraq, Saudi Arabia, coastal Kuwait and the Persian Gulf. They also provided emergency evacuation coverage for U.S. Navy sea, air and land (SEAL) teams penetrating the Kuwaiti coast before the invasion.

All MH-60Gs subsequently divested by AFSOC, redesignated as HH-60Gs and transferred back to Air Combat Command (ACC) and ACC-gained Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) units.whenFact|date=October 2008

During Operation Allied Force, the Pave Hawk provided continuous combat search and rescue coverage for NATO air forces, and successfully recovered two U.S. Air Force pilots who were isolated behind enemy lines.

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.

Air Force Pave Hawks from the Pacific Theatre also took part in a massive humanitarian relief effort in early 2005 in Sri Lanka to help victims of the tsunami. [ [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009629 Kadena Airmen help Sri Lanka tsunami victims, Air Force Print News by Master Sgt. Val Gempis] ] In the fall of 2005, Pave Hawks from various Air Force commands participated in rescue operations of Hurricane Katrina survivors, rescuing thousands of stranded people.Fact|date=May 2007

Currently, Pave Hawks regularly operate in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom supporting Army and Marine Corps ground combat operations and standby search and rescue support for U.S. and Coalition fixed-wing combat aircraft supporting those ground operations.Fact|date=May 2007

Variants

* HH-60A: Prototype for the HH-60D rescue helicopter. A modified UH-60A primarily designed for combat search and rescue. It is equipped with a rescue hoist with a 200 ft (60.96 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe. [http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/html/412015l.htm DoD 4120-15L] , "Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles", US DoD, 12 May 2004.]
* HH-60D: Prototype of early search and rescue variant for the US Air Force.
* HH-60E: Proposed search and rescue variant for the US Air Force.
* HH-60G Pave Hawk: Search and rescue helicopter for the US Air Force. UH-60A Credible Hawk were updated to MH-60G Pave Hawk configuration in a two-phase program.
* MH-60G Pave Hawk: Special Operations, search and rescue model for the US Air Force. Equipped with long-range fuel tanks, air-to-air refueling capability, FLIR, improved radar. Powered by T-700-GE-700/701 engines.
* Maplehawk: Proposed search and rescue version for the Canadian Forces to replace aging CH-113 Labradors.cite journal|last=Warwick|first=Graham|date=2008-09-27 |title=Level Playing Field?|journal=Flight International |publisher=Reed Business Information |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/1997/08/27/14939/level-playing-field.html|accessdate=2008-10-08] The CF opted for the CH-149 Cormorant instead.

Operators

Section information from USAF 2008 Almanac

* Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ -- 305th RQS (AFRC) and 55th RQS (AFSOC)
* Kadena AB, Japan -- 18th Wing (33d RQS) (PACAF)
* Kirtland AFB, NM -- 58th Special Operations Wing (512 RQS) (AETC)
* Kulis ANGB, Alaska -- 176th Wing, (210 RQS)) (Alaska ANG)
* RAF Lakenheath, UK -- 48th Fighter Wing (56th RQS) (USAFE)
* Moffett Field ANGB, CA -- 129th Rescue Wing (California ANG)
* Moody AFB, GA -- 23d Wing (41 RQS) (AFSOC)
* Nellis AFB, NV -- (66 RQS) (AFSOC)
* Francis S. Gabreski Airport ANGB, NY -- 106th Rescue Wing (New York ANG)
* Patrick AFB, FL -- 920th Rescue Wing (301 RQS) (AFRC)

pecifications (HH-60G)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop
ref=USAF 2008 Almanac USAF fact sheet, [ [http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=107 HH-60G Pave Hawk] , US Air Force, October 2007.]
crew=4 (2 pilots, flight engineer, gunner)
capacity=max. crew 6, 8-12 troops, plus litters and/or other cargo
length main=64 ft 10 in
length alt=17.1 m
height main=16 ft 8 in
height alt=5.1 m
span main=53 ft 8 in
span alt=14.1 m
area main=
area alt=
empty weight main=16,000 lb
empty weight alt=7,260 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=22,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt=9,900 kg
engine (prop)=two General Electric T700-GE-700/701C
type of prop=free-turbine turboshafts
number of props=2
power main=1,630 shp
power alt=1,220 kW
max speed main= 195 knots
max speed alt=224 mph, 295 km/h
cruise speed main=159 kt
cruise speed alt=184 mph, km/h
range main=373 mi (internal tanks), or 508 mi (with external tanks)
range alt=
range more=
ceiling main=14,000 ft
ceiling alt= m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament=
* 2x 7.62 mm mini-guns or 2x 0.50 cal machine guns

Onboard Systems

*INS/GPS/Doppler navigation
*SATCOM satellite communications
*Secure/anti-jam communications
*PLS range/steering radio to compatible survivor radios
*Automatic flight control
*NVG night vision goggle lighting
*FLIR forward looking infra-red radar
*Color weather radar
*Engine/rotor blade anti-ice system
*Retractable In-flight refueling probe
*Integral rescue hoist
*RWB combat enhancement
*IR infra-red jamming unit
*flare/chaff countermeasure dispensing system

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Sikorsky S-70
* UH-60 Black Hawk
* SH-60 Seahawk
* HH-60 Jayhawk
* Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk
similar aircraft=
* Boeing MH-47E/G
* MH-53 Pave Low
lists=
* List of helicopters
* List of active United States military aircraft
see also=
* US Helicopter Armament Subsystems

References

* 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.

External links

* [http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=107 USAF HH-60G Pave Hawk fact sheet]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/hh-60g.htm HH-60 page] and [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/mh-60g.htm MH-60 page on globalsecurity.org]
* [http://www.helis.com/70s/blackhawk.php Sikorsky S-70 page on helis.com]