HH-60H Sea Hawk

US Navy HH-60H Sea Hawk

The HH-60H Sea Hawk, sometimes known as 'Rescue Hawk', is a dedicated combat rescue and special operations support helicopter. If friendly air-crew are shot down, the HH-60H is configured to retrieve them from hostile territory, be it over lland or water. The helicopter is also tasked with the insertion/extraction of Naval Special Warfare (NSW) units such as US Navy SEAL teams. The HH-60H can also carry out anti-surface warfare operations.

Based around the SH-60F airframe, the HH-60H is packed with advanced electronic defensive equipment and sensors. A gimble-mounted FLIR is used to scan for lost personnel or enemy vessels and incorporates a laser designator for painting targets for up to 4 AGM-144 Hellfire missiles. A suite of radar and laser warning-receivers, infra-red jammer and chaff/flare dispensers increase the HH-60H's survivability. Titanium-covered rotors can deflect hits from enemy fire up to 23mm caliber.

A wide range of weapons can be fitted to the HH-60H. 2 pintle-mounts, one in each port/starboard doorway allow for the mounting of M240D machine guns, .50 caliber machine guns or GAU-17 7.62mm miniguns. When operating in the anti-surface role, pylons attached to the fuselage enable the HH-60H to carry GCAL-50 gatling guns, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 70mm FFAR rockets, AIM-92 Stingers air-to-air missiles or Maverick IR-guided missiles.

HH-60Hs were first actively deployed in 1990 and soon saw action in the first Gulf War in 1991.

HH-60H Specifications

A gimble-mounted AAQ-16 FLIR sensor pod sweeps for targets and provided visibility in all weathers during day and night.

The HH-60H features a AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System which triggers flares and other countermeasures to defeat incoming missiles.

Crew	4 - Pilot, Co-pilot & 2 flight-engineers/door-gunners
Engines	2 Two General Electric T700-GE-401-C 1,900 hp engines
Dimensions	L - 17.1m W (rotorspan) - 14.1m H - 4.4m
Weights	6,114 kg (empty) 9,967 kg (max loadout)
Max Speed	296 kph
Range	463 km
Armament	2 gun ports (port/starboard) : 7.62mm machine guns/miniguns and/or.50 machine guns AGM-114 Hellfires GCAL-50 Gatling Guns Maverick missiles 70mm FFAR rocket pods AIM-92 Stingers
Avionics	AN/AAQ-16 FLIR AN/ARN-148 Omega/VLF navigation M-130 chaff/flare dispensers AN/ALQ-144 IR jammer AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System Radar / Laser warning receivers Ring-laser inertial navigation system Global positioning system Doppler navigation system TACAN KG-10 map display unit Weather avoidance radar Automatic flight control system

gau-16/a machine gun mounted in a hh-60g pavehawk gun port.

The HH-60H can accommodate machine guns mounted in both main cabin door openings.

The insertion/extraction of US Navy SEALs is one of the HH60H's dedicated roles.

HH-60H FEATURES

all-weather capability
flare launchers on each side of the fuselage
titanium-coated rotor blades
radar warning receivers and chaff-launchers to protect against radar-homing threats
hovering in-flight refueling capability
hinged-components for easy stowing aboard ships

US Navy HH-60H Sea Hawks can be configured to carry AGM-114 Hellfires on special pylons attached to the fuselage.

U.S. DOD photo by SRA RICK BLOOM, USAF

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HH-60H Sea Hawk

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