Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk

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MH-60J / HH-60J Jayhawk
US Coast Guard helicopter rescue demonstration.jpg
A HH-60J Jayhawk hovering as a USCG rescue swimmer enters the water during a demonstration.
Role Medium range recovery helicopter[1]
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight 8 August 1989
Status In service
Primary user United States Coast Guard
Produced 1990-1996
Number built 42 + 3 conversions
Unit cost
US$17 million
Developed from Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

The Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk is a multi-mission, twin-engine, medium-range helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard for search and rescue, law enforcement, military readiness and marine environmental protection missions. Originally designated HH-60J before being upgraded and redesignated beginning in 2007,[2] the MH-60T is designed to fly a crew of four up to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). offshore, hoist up to 6 additional people on board while remaining on-scene for up to 45 minutes and return to base while maintaining an adequate fuel reserve. Normal cruising speed of the MH-60T is Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). and the aircraft is capable of reaching Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). for short durations. The MH-60T can fly at Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). for six to seven hours.[3]

Chosen to replace the HH-3F Pelican, the MH-60T is a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family of helicopters and is based on the United States Navy's SH-60 Seahawk helicopter.[1] Development began in September 1986, first flight was achieved on 8 August 1989, and the first HH-60J entered USCG service in June 1990. Production ended in 1996 after 42 helicopters were produced; three retired SH-60F Seahawks were also remanufactured to MH-60T specifications beginning in 2010.[4] A total of 42 MH-60Ts are in service with the Coast Guard.[5]

Development

Chosen to replace the HH-3F Pelican, the HH-60J was based on the United States Navy's SH-60 Seahawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family. Compared to its predecessor, the HH-3F, the HH-60J is lighter, faster, and equipped with more sophisticated electronics and more powerful engines.[1] The HH-60J was developed in conjunction with the U.S. Navy's HH-60H Rescue Hawk.[6]

File:Sikorsky HH-60.jpg
Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk (USCG registration number 6008) on the tarmac at Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Oregon

Sikorsky began development in September 1986 and aircraft registration number 6001 achieved first flight on 8 August 1989. The first aircraft was delivered to the USCG for developmental testing in March, 1990 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. In March 1991, ATC Mobile, Alabama became the first USCG unit to fly the HH-60J, allowing instructor pilots to prepare for pilot training. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina was the first USCG operational unit to fly the HH-60J.[1] Sikorsky produced 42 HH-60Js with sequential registration numbers from 6001 through 6042.[7] Sikorsky ceased production in 1996 after fulfilling the 42 unit contract. Subsequently, the Coast Guard has converted three ex-Navy SH-60F Seahawks into MH-60T Jayhawks (registration numbers 6043-6045) as attrition replacements.[4]

MH-60T upgrade program

The USCG began converting its 42 HH-60Js to MH-60Ts in January 2007. This avionics and capabilities upgrade is part of the USCG's Integrated Deepwater System Program and will provide a glass cockpit, an enhanced electro-optic/infrared sensor system as well as a radar sensor system and airborne use of force capability.[8][9] The airborne use of force package includes both weapons for firing warning and disabling shots and armor to protect the aircrew from small arms fire.[2][10] The MH-60T upgrades were completed in February 2014.[11]

Design

With a fuel capacity of Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value)., the HH-60J is designed to fly a crew of four up to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). offshore, hoist up to 6 additional people on board while remaining on-scene for up to 45 minutes and return to base while maintaining an adequate fuel reserve. Normal cruising speed of the HH-60J is Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). and the aircraft is capable of reaching Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). for short durations. The HH60J can fly at Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). for six to seven hours.[3]

The HH-60J uses the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System as its primary long range navigational aid, using a Collins RCVR-3A radio to simultaneously receive information from four of the NAVSTAR system's 18 worldwide satellites.

The HH-60J is normally based on land but can be based on 270 foot medium endurance Coast Guard Cutters (WMEC) or 378 foot high endurance Coast Guard Cutters (WHEC).

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 Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). fuel tanks with two on the port side rack and one on the starboard side rack. The starboard side also carries a Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). capacity rescue hoist mounted above the door. The hoist has Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). of cable.[6]

Operational history

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Haitian earthquake victims are unloaded from a HH-60J at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay.

In 1990, HH-60J Jayhawks began replacing HH-3F Pelican and CH-3E Sea King helicopters in service with the US Coast Guard. HH-60Js perform search and rescue missions, along with other missions such as maritime patrol and drug interdiction.[12] Coast Guard cutters with their HH-60Js and other helicopters performed security and interdiction in the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm and also in 2003 for Operation Enduring Freedom.[12]

On 29 October 2012, Jayhawk number 6031 (70-1790) was used during the offshore rescue of the crew of HMS Bounty during Hurricane Sandy.

Variants

HH-60J 
Medium range recovery helicopter. 42 units delivered to the USCG between 1990 and 1996.
MH-60T 
Medium range recovery helicopter. 39 surviving HH-60J airframes received upgraded avionics and operational capabilities, including armaments, between 2007 and 2014.[9] Three SH-60Fs were converted to MH-60T specifications as attrition replacements.[4]

Operators

File:HH60 Retrieving rescue swimmer.jpg
A Jayhawk retrieves a rescue swimmer.
 United States

Accidents

As of July 2010, three Jayhawks have been involved in crashes, including two fatal crashes.[14][15][16]

Specifications (HH-60J)

HH-60J orthographical image.svg
Most data is for HH-60J. Data for MH-60T is noted below.

Data from USCG HH-60J information,[3] Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk information,[17][18] Globalsecurity.org HH-60J specifications[19]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 SH-60F to MH-60T Conversion Process, United States Coast Guard, 4 April 2014
  5. MH-60T: Jayhawk. U.S. Coast Guard
  6. 6.0 6.1 Leoni, Ray D. Black Hawk, The Story of a World Class Helicopter, pp. 212-213. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2007. ISBN 978-1-56347-918-2.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Aviation Update newsletter. US Coast Guard, January/February 2007.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Acquisition Update: Final Jayhawk Completes Conversion to MH-60T Model. U.S. Coast Guard, 19 February 2014.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Tomajczyk, Stephen F. Black Hawk, pp. 74-74. MBI, 2003. ISBN 0-7603-1591-4.
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  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. S-70B Seahawk Technical Information, 2001.
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links