SH-60 Seahawk

[Other versions are the UH-60 Black Hawk (Army); HH-60H (Navy); MH-60G Pave Hawk (Air Force); HH-60J Jayhawk (Coast Guard).]

Used in: Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard

Description: A twin-engine, medium lift, utility or assault helicopter.

Features: The Seahawk is a twin-engine helicopter. It is used for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, drug interdiction, anti-ship warfare, cargo lift, and special operations. The Navy's SH-60B Seahawk is an airborne platform based aboard cruisers, destroyers, and frigates and deploys sonobouys (sonic detectors) and torpedoes in an anti-submarine role. They also extend the range of the ship's radar capabilities. The Navy's SH-60F is carrier-based. The HH-60H, also aboard carriers and ashore, is used for search and rescue (SAR) missions. By 2015, the only models of Seahawk in the Navy will be the MH-60S and the MH-60R. Some versions, such as the Air Force's MH-60 G and the Coast Guard's HH-60J Jayhawk, are equipped with a rescue hoist with a 250 foot (75 meter) cable that has a 600 pound (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe. The Army's UH-60L Black Hawk can carry 11 soldiers or 2,600 pounds (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 pounds (4,050 kg) of cargo.

Background: The UH-60 Black Hawk was fielded by the Army in 1979. The Navy received the SH- 60B Seahawk in 1983 and the SH-60F in 1988. The first MH-60S operational squadron was Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC 5), homeported in Guam. The Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in 1982 while the Coast Guard received the HH-60J Jayhawk in 1992. The unit cost varies with the version. For example, the unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million while the unit cost of the Air Force MH-60G is $10.2 million.

Points of Contact:
Navy: Naval Air Systems Command
Public Affairs Department
47123 Buse Road, Unit IPT
Bldg. 2272, Suite 075
Patuxent River, MD 20670-5440

General Characteristics:

Primary Function: Varies with the particular military service
Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (airframe); General Electric Company (engines); IBM Corporation (avionics components)
Power plant: Two General Electric T700-GE-700 or T700-GE-701C engines
Thrust: Up to 1,940 shaft horsepower
Length: 64 feet 10 inches (19.6 meters)
Height: Varies with the version; from 13 to 17 feet (3.9 to 5.1 meters)
Rotor diameter: 53 feet 8 inches (16.4 meters)
Weight: Varies; 21,000 to 23,000 pounds (9,450 to 10,350 kg)
Speed: 180 knots maximum
Range: Generally about 380 nautical miles (600 km); range becomes unlimited with air refueling capability.
Armament: Usually two 7.62mm machine guns mounted in the windows; can also be equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire or AGM-119 Penguin missiles, three Mk46 torpedoes or additional .50-caliber machine guns mounted in the doors
Crew: Three to four

Credits: US Navy