MH-60G Pave Hawk

US Air Force (USAF) MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 301st Rescue Squadron, taking off on a mission during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. MH-60Gs provided combat search and rescue support, rescuing downed coalition aircrew. They also inserted and extracted Special Forces troops. This photo clearly shows the selection of specialised equipment that enables the Pave Hawk to complete its dangerous missions - notably the telescopic refuleing probe, forward looking infrared (FLIR) pod and a terrain-following radar in the helicopter's chin, and flare dispensors attached to the fuselage. 2x 7.62mm gatling guns provide covering fire when going in/out of a hostile landing zone (LZ).