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Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (February 2009) Add more details on development and operations |
| HH-60 Jayhawk | |
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| 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.
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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 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.
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] Globalsecurity page[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, two flight crew)
- Length: 65 ft (19.8 m)
- Rotor diameter: 54 ft (16.5 m)
- Height: 17 ft (5.2 m)
- Empty weight: 14,500 lb (6,580 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 21,884 lb (9,926 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-401C gas turbines, 1,980 hp (1,476 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 knots (205 mph, 333 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 140 knots (160 mph, 260 km/h)
- Range: 700 nautical miles (802 mi, 1,300 km)
- Service ceiling: 5,000 ft hovering (1,520 m)
Armament
2x M240B 7.62x51 mm medium machine guns or 2x Browning M2 12.7x99 mm HMG forward of doors.
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
- ^ Leoni 2007, p. 212
- ^ Leoni 2007, pp. 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.
- ^ 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
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: UH-60 |
- HH-60J Jayhawk page and MH-60T on US Coast Guard site
- HH-60 Jayhawk and MH-60T on globalsecurity.org
- HH-60J Jayhawk on navalhelicopterassn.org
- Coast Guard Plans Jayhawk Modernization on VTOL.org
- U.S. Coast Guard Fielding Armed HH-65Cs, -60Js, Aviation Today, October 1, 2007.
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