US Air Force unveils HH-60W Whiskey helicopters to replace Pave Hawks.

A new combat rescue helicopter, the HH-60W "Whiskey" model of the Pave Hawk, was on display during a ceremony at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in Jupiter on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019.

HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (Picture source: Sikorsky)

The HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) is being developed by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in co-operation with Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force’s (USAF) CRH programme. It is an advanced variant of the combat-proven UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

Building on the UH-60M Black Hawk, the HH-60W “Whiskey” adds capability advancements to better support the full range of combat rescue and other special missions. Designed to meet long-range and high threat requirements for the U.S. Air Force, the Whiskey will expand upon the legendary Black Hawk’s versatility by doubling the internal fuel capacity without the use of space hungry auxiliary fuel tanks, provides a robust weapons suite, and integrates defensive systems and sensors to provide an unprecedented combination of range and survivability.

The U.S. Air Force program of record calls for 113 helicopters to replace the Air Force’s aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services and allies.

Four HH-60W aircraft are undergoing testing and five more are in production.

Four HH-60W aircraft are undergoing testing and five more are in production (Picture source: Sikorsky)