The first Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter for the US Air Force is now undergoing final assembly at Sikorsky’s facility in Stratford, Connecticut. Its first flight is expected to occur at the end of 2018, two months ahead of schedule.
The helicopter is the first of nine HH-60Ws to be built at Stratford during the $1.5 billion Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) and System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA) phases of the Combat Rescue Helicopter programme, consisting of four EMD aircraft and five SDTA helicopters. The HH-60W is replacing the Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter in US Air Force service and the programme of record is for 112 aircraft.
Tim Healy, Director of Sikorsky Air Force Programs said: “The HH- 60W will be the most thoroughly networked and connected vertical platform ever produced, bringing unrivalled capability in highthreat environments. The modern battlespace is an unforgiving place, no one survives on their own, and the HH-60W allows the entire suite of air and space power to be linked and employed in support of combat rescue operations, even in deep and denied territory.”
