The HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) is being developed by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in co-operation with Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force’s (USAF) CRH programme. It is an advanced variant of the combat-proven UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.
UH-60M Black Hawk: Details
The new 60-Whiskey helicopter will replace HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift, combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) vehicle that entered service with the USAF in 1982.
HH-60G Pave Hawk (existing fleet)
HH-60G Pave Hawk – military.com
Mission
The primary mission of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations into hostile environments to recover isolated personnel during war. The HH-60G is also tasked to perform military operations other than war, including civil search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, security cooperation/aviation advisory, NASA space flight support, and rescue command and control.
HH-60G Pave Hawk
Features
The Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the Army Black Hawk helicopter which features an upgraded communications and navigation suite that includes 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 with lighting and forward looking infrared system that greatly enhances night low-level operations. Additionally, Pave Hawks have color weather radar and an engine/rotor blade anti-ice system that gives the HH-60G an adverse weather capability.
Bendix-King 1400C navigation radar in a radome on the left side of the nose
Air National Guard
The RDR 1400C weather and search-and-rescue radar was designed for fixed or rotary wing aircraft engaged in patrol, search and rescue missions, and for transporting personnel and equipment to remote sites (off-shore oil rigs etc.) The lightweight digital X-Band radar got the designator AN/APN-239 in the AmericanJETDS . The RDR 1400C color vision weather radar system is manufactured by Telephonics (originally by Bendix/King) and is e.g. used in Sikorsky HH-60G, MH-60G.
radartutorial.eu
RDR 1400C Color vision Weather Radar System provides five primary modes of operation: 2 conventional weather avoidance modes, and 3 air-to-surface and detection modes:
- Search 1 incorporates special sea clutter rejection circuitry to help detect small boats or buoys down to a minimum range of 300 yards.
- Search 2 is designed for precision ground mapping, where high target resolution is important.
- Search 3 mode includes normal ground mapping and can also be used to detect and track prominent land objects and coastlines.
The RDR 1400C also has the capability to receive signals from both standard 2-pulse beacon transponders and the DO-172 6-pulse transponders.
The primary system components of weather radar system are Receiver – Transmitter unit, Radar Control panel, Antenna Drive & Antenna Array and Navigation concentrator. The system is available with one of three flat-plate arrays of different diameter: AA-1218A (10″ or 25 cm), AA-4518A (12″ or 30 cm), and AA-5518A (10″ or 45 cm). The Radar Antenna Drive Unit (DA-1203A) allows pitch/roll stabilization and scans of 120 deg. or 60 deg. sector. The basic aircraft inputs for this radar is 28 V DC, 115 V AC and A/C Gyro inputs. The RDR 1. Source radartutorial.eu
Pave Hawk mission equipment includes a retractable in-flight refueling probe, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, two crew-served 7.62mm or .50 caliber machineguns, and an 8,000-pound (3,600 kilograms) 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 load (270 kilograms) from a hover height of 200 feet (60.7 meters), 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.
Pave Hawks are equipped with an over-the-horizon tactical data receiver that is capable of receiving near real-time mission update information.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Personnel recovery in hostile conditions and military operations other than war in day, night or marginal weather
Contractor: United Technologies/Sikorsky Aircraft Company
Power Plant: Two General Electric T700-GE-700 or T700-GE-701C engines
Thrust: 1,560-1,940 shaft horsepower, each engine
Rotor Diameter: 53 feet, 7 inches (14.1 meters)
Length: 64 feet, 8 inches (17.1 meters)
Height: 16 feet, 8 inches (4.4 meters)
Weight: 22,000 pounds (9,900 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 22,000 pounds (9,900 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 4,500 pounds (2,041 kilograms)
Payload: depends upon mission
Speed: 184 mph (159 knots)
Range: 504 nautical miles
Ceiling: 14,000 feet (4,267 meters)
Armament: Two 7.62mm or .50 caliber machineguns
Crew: Two pilots, one flight engineer and one gunner
Unit Cost: $40.1 million (FY11 Dollars)
Initial operating capability: 1982
Inventory: Active force, 67; ANG, 17; Reserve, 15
HH-60G Source af.mil
The HH-60W can be deployed in casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), non-combatant evacuation missions, civil search-and-rescue, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and insertion or extraction of combat forces.
A new HH-60 combat rescue helicopter comes in for a landing Nov. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The aircraft was delivered to the 413th Flight Test Squadron located at Duke Field. The HH-60 delivery marks the first time in recent history the Air Force will receive a rotary wing asset not previously used in another branch of the military. The aircraft is set to replace the Air Force’s aging UH-1N Huey.
CRH programme details
The USAF announced the replacement of its aging HH-60G helicopters with new CRH in 2010. A request for proposal (RFP) was issued for the CRH programme in October 2012. Sikorsky teamed up with major subsystems supplier Lockheed Martin to offer a UH-60M derivative as the USAF’s new combat rescue helicopter.
In June 2014, the USAF awarded a $1.2bn engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) contract to the Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin team to provide the next-generation combat rescue helicopter fleet. The scope of the contract covers development and integration of the rescue mission systems, four helicopters, as well as seven aircrew and maintenance training systems.
The contract also includes options for the production of 112 HH-60W helicopters. The Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin team will deliver the helicopters with most advanced capabilities to support all services in combat.
The new combat rescue helicopter was officially named as the HH-60W by the USAF in November 2014. The preliminary design review (PDR) of the HH-60W was completed in May 2016, whereas the vehicle critical design review (CDR) was concluded in September 2017. The training systems CDR is expected in September 2017.
The USAF plans to conduct the first test flight of HH-60W CRH in 2019 for fielding an operational helicopter in 2021, while full-rate production is anticipated by 2023.
HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter passes design review: Here
Excerpt
Lockheed Martin has announced that is successfully completed an Air Vehicle Critical Design Review for the U.S. Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter program. The review will allow the construction, testing and evaluation of the HH-60W helicopter to move forward.
Sikorsky Conducts Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) Training Systems Critical Design Review: Here
Excerpt
The $1.5 billion Engineering Manufacturing & Development (EMD) contract includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue helicopter and mission systems. This includes delivery of nine HH-60W helicopters as well as six aircrew and maintenance training devices and instructional courseware designed specifically for the HH-60W aircraft. The training devices run the spectrum from full motion simulators, full aircraft maintenance trainers, and discrete “part task training devices” for aircraft systems such as avionics, rescue hoist and landing gear.
First Sikorsky Combat Rescue Helicopter Enters Final Assembly: Here
HH-60W helicopter design and features
The design of HH-60W is based on the next-generation UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. The rotorcraft integrates a crashworthy and damage-tolerant airframe. It retains composite, wide-chord; main rotor blades; and corrosion-resistant structures of its predecessor.
The helicopter will offer increased internal fuel capability than the HH-60G helicopter. It will deliver longer range, while offering a larger internal cabin space. It can accommodate two pilots, two gunners, two paramedics and two litters for medical patients or injured service members. Either side of the fuselage can be mounted with .50 calibre and 7.62mm machine guns.
The helicopter will be equipped with Lockheed Martin’s mission planning system, defensive aids, data links, mission computers and adverse weather sensors.
0.50 caliber machine guns
| Designation | 0.50″/72 (12.7 mm) M3M FH Herstal MG |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Rotary-wing aircraft |
| Date Of Design | N/A |
| Date In Service | 2001-2003 (evaluation) 2004 (service) |
| Weight | 79.9 lbs. (35.8 kg) |
| Gun Length oa | 59.8 in (1.520 m) |
| Barrel length | 36 in (0.914 m) |
| Rifling Length | 31.5 in (0.800 m) |
| Grooves | 8 |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | 1.5 in3 (24.6 cm3) |
| Rate Of Fire | 950 – 1,100 rounds per minute cyclic 200 rounds per minute practical |
Source navweaps.com
7.62 caliber machine guns
The FN Light Door Pintle Weapon System – or FN® LDP – includes the following:
-
a 7.62x51mm FN MAG® 58M machine gun with spade grips
-
a light pintle head – or FN® LPH – including a soft mount
-
a column located between the pintle head and the connection
-
a light door pintle connection (specific to the carrier)
-
a feeding kit including an ammunition box and a feed chute
-
an ejection kit including a links and cases collector and an ejection chute
Source fnherstal.com
Lockheed Martin AN/ALQ-210 ESM
RWR/ESM (Radar Warning and location identifier) : Lockheed Martin AN/ALQ-210. The AN/ALQ-210 ESM subsystem performs situational awareness and threat warning functions simultaneously. The subsystem is designed with an open architecture in order to accommodate scalable functionality. It quickly detects and identifies emitters over a wide frequency range, determines the signal angle of arrival, and locates the source in dense signal environments. Technical data lockheedmartin.com
Goodrich AN/AVR-2B(V) Laser Warning System (LWS)
The AN/AVR-2A is a passive laser warning system which receives, processes and displays threat information resulting from aircraft illumination by laser designators, range finders and beam riding missiles. The threat information is displayed on the AN/APR-39A(V)1 Radar Detecting Set indicator in the cockpit. The AN/AVR-2A LDS is derived from the basic AN/AVR-2 LDS through the incorporation of several engineering change proposals (ECPs). These ECPs include: incorporation of the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System-Air-to-Ground Engagement System interface; incorporation of a removable user data module to the comparator interface to permit a means to apply software changes and system declassification; and increased Band III sensitivity for improved threat detection performance. The AN/AVR-2A LDS consists of one interface unit comparator and four identical sensor units. The total system weight is 21 pounds.
AN/AVR-2B
The AN/AVS-2B(V) was derived from the system developed for the Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche. Goodrich claimes it is 40% smaller, 45% lighter (i.e. approx. 2,5 pounds (1,5 kg) per sensor) and uses 45% less power than the previous AN/AVR-2A(V) version . The system provides increased functionality for threat detection and data interface and has demonstrated a 500% improvement in reliability. The model was introduced into service in 2004. Source scramble.nl
AN/AAR-57 common missile warning system (CMWS)
ATIRCM / CMWS
Superior detection
- Compatible with existing chaff, flare and RF decoy dispensers, and laser DIRCM systems
- Over 2,100 systems installed on fixed –wing and rotary-wing aircraft
- Flown more than 2 million combat theatre flight hours
- Hostile fire indication capabilities
- Enables data recording capabilities for post-mission analysis
- Can be used as a centralized processing system for Integrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment
Source baesystems.com
Ballistic Protection System
Image: ccaprotect.com
Armored Seat – jasp-online.org
Cockpit and avionics
Aircrew begin to gear down after a bringing the new HH-60 combat rescue helicopter to its new home Nov. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The aircraft was delivered to the 413th Flight Test Squadron located at Duke Field. The HH-60 delivery marks the first time in recent history the Air Force will receive a rotary wing asset not previously used in another branch of the military. The aircraft is set to replace the Air Force’s aging UH-1N Huey.
The advanced glass cockpit will accommodate two pilots side-by-side. It will be equipped with Rockwell Collins’ state-of-the art avionics and mission equipment, including cockpit flight and mission display system, navigation radios and the advanced ARC-210 V/UHF communication system.
The ARC-210 offers secure voice communications and civil interoperability. The system supports the integration of future advanced ad hoc networks and next-generation mobile user objective system (MUOS) satellite communication (SATCOM) for uninterrupted voice and data.
The multi-function displays (MFDs) aboard the cockpit will comply with the latest night-vision imaging system (NVIS) standards. The MFDs will support wide viewing angles for superior cross-cockpit viewing. The integrated cockpit flight and mission display system will deliver superior situational awareness while reducing pilot workload during CSAR missions.
MFD-268 Multi-Function Display
Rockwell Collins’ MFD-268 multi-function display offers superior functionality, condensed packaging and proven reliability in some of the most rugged military helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It displays graphics and video on an XGA, 1024-by-768 resolution, delivering high performance with an avionics-grade, color active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD).
The MFD-268 can be procured as part of an integrated system such as Flight2™ and Common Avionics Architecture systems or as a stand-alone display. It is capable of providing a typical ADI/HSI format or can be used for an Engine Instrument Display. It’s available in both landscape and portrait configurations.
As a smart display, it is capable of showing video from sensors merged with graphics to provide enhanced situational awareness in all phases of flight. The MFD-268 spans the Department of Defense fleet from the C-130 to large tanker aircraft. Its very large customer base makes this display sustainable well into the future.
Available in both smart and monitor displays, the MFD-268 features open architecture within the partitioned environment, making it customizable and cost effective to take from platform to platform. Source rockwellcollins.com
AN/ARC-210 Gen5 programmable digital communication system
Whether you’re conducting a routine mission or are in the midst of a crisis, reliable communication is key to your success. It’s exactly what the RT-1990A(C) ARC-210 Gen5 software defined receiver-transmitter delivers.
That’s because the RT-1990A(C) draws capability from one of the world’s most widely proven radio legacies: our AN/ARC-210 communication system family.
More than 40,000 AN/ARC-210 radios are equipped globally on more than 200 platforms. Our airborne radios are the well-established choice for multiband, multimode communications.
Features & Benefits
Line-of-sight data transfer rates up to 80 kb/s in a 25 kHz channel creating high-speed communication of critical situational awareness information for increased mission effectiveness
Software reprogrammable in the field via Memory Loader/Verifier Software making flexible use for multiple missions
Offers direct replacement for RT-1794(C), RT-1824(C), RT-1851(C) and RT-1851A(C). Supports all ARC-210 legacy waveforms and functions reducing integration efforts
Embedded software programmable cryptography for secure communications
Source rockwellcollins.com
Elbit Systems next generation AN/AVS-7 ANVIS-HUD Head Unit Displays.
Elbit Systems’ AN/AVS-7 is a standard helicopter aviator day and night helmet mounted display system (a Heads-Up display). The HUD is an electro-optic system combining the standard ANVIS goggles image with aircraft flight instrumentation and computer graphics during night operation. Source oled-info.com
MEETS ALL U.S. AIR FORCE REQUIREMENTS
- 195 Nautical Mile Combat Radius
- Hot and High Hover of 4000’ PA and 95°F
- Best-in-class Survivability and Lethality
- Unprecedented Net-centric Capability
Engine of the HH-60W
The power-plant of HH-60W will integrate two General Electric T700-GE-701D turbo-shaft engines, which will each develop a maximum continuous power of 1,716shp (1,279kW) and offer superior performance in adverse weather conditions.
Maintainers move out to attend to a new HH-60 combat rescue helicopter Nov. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The aircraft was delivered to the 413th Flight Test Squadron located at Duke Field. The HH-60 delivery marks the first time in recent history the Air Force will receive a rotary wing asset not previously used in another branch of the military. The aircraft is set to replace the Air Force’s aging UH-1N Huey.
General Electric T700-GE-701D engine
| Number of Engines | 2 | |
| Engine Type | T700 GE 701D | |
| Take-off Shaft horsepower (5 min) | 3,988 shp | 2,974 kw |
| OEI Shaft horsepower (30 sec) | 1,972 shp | 1,447 kw |
Performance
| Maximum Taekoff Gross Weight | 22,000 lbs | 9,979 kg |
| Maximum Gross Weight with External Load | 23,500 lbs | 10,659 kg |
| Maximum Cruise Speed(Standard day, sea level) | 160 kts | 297 km/h |
| Maximum Range – No Reserve, no additional tanks | 268 kts | 496 km |
| HIGE Ceiling(Ceiling for 18,000 lbs GW) | 15,000 ft | 4,572 m |
| HOGE Ceiling(Ceiling for 18,000 lbs GW) | 11,000 ft | 3,353 m |
| OEI Service Ceiling | 3,700 ft | 1,127 m |
| AEO Service Ceiling(Ceiling for 18,000 lbs GW) | 20,000 ft | 6,097 m |
Technical data pzlmielec.pl
Main material source airforce-technology.com
Images are from public domain unless otherwise stated
Updated Oct 14, 2019
hanwhasystems.com
Image: militaryparitet.com
K-VLS
Thai Military and Asian Region 