SH-60 Seahawk helicopter: Aircraft profile

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

SH-60 Seahawk helicopter

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 sonobuoys (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 Pave Hawk 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.

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SH-60 Seahawk helicopter: Arabian Gulf (Apr. 21, 2004) - An SH-60F Seahawk assigned to the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Five (HS-5) lifts-off as an HH-60H Seahawk prepares for flight operations aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). The Norfolk, Va. based aircraft carrier and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7), are on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Joan Kretschmer.

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 Pave Hawk is $10.2 million.

Service

Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Varies with the particular military service.

Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (airframe); General Electric Company (engines); IBM Corporation (avionics components).

Propulsion: 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).

Airspeed: 180 knots maximum.

Range: Generally about 380 nautical miles (600 km); range becomes unlimited with air refueling capability.

Crew: Three to four.

Source: US Navy

SH-60 Seahawk helicopter: The Arabian Gulf (April 30, 2003) -- An SH-60 Sea Dragon assigned to the “Indians” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six (HS-6) transfers supplies from USS Bridge (AOE 10) to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during a Connected Replenishment (CONREP). Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) are currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Angel G Hilbrands.

Detailed background:

Source: wikipedia.org

The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the airframe of the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk.

The U.S. Navy uses the H-60 airframe under the model designations SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60R, and MH-60S. Able to deploy aboard any air-capable frigate, destroyer, cruiser, fast combat support ship, amphibious assault ship or aircraft carrier, the Seahawk can handle antisubmarine warfare (ASW), undersea warfare (USW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), naval special warfare (NSW) insertion, search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), vertical replenishment (VERTREP) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). All Navy H-60s carry either the Lucas Western or Breeze Eastern rescue hoist for SAR/CSAR missions.

Design and development

SH-60B Seahawk

The SH-60B Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS Mk III) deploys primarily aboard frigates, destroyers and cruisers. There were five prototype YSH-60B Seahawks produced.

The primary missions of the SH-60B are surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare, which it accomplishes through a complex system of sensors carried aboard the helicopter including a towed Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) and air-launched sonobuoys. Other sensors include the APS-124 search radar, ALQ-142 ESM system and optional nose-mounted forward looking infrared (FLIR) turret. It carries the Mk 46, Mk 50, or Mk 54 torpedo, AGM-114 Hellfire missile, and a single cabin-door-mounted M60D/M240 7.62 mm machine gun or GAU-16 .50 in machine gun.

A standard crew for a SH-60B is one pilot, one ATO/Co-Pilot (Airborne Tactical Officer) and an enlisted aviation systems warfare operator (sensor operator). Operating squadrons are designated Helicopter Anti-submarine Light (HSL).

SH-60F Oceanhawk

The SH-60F is the carrier-based version of the Bravo, having replaced the SH-3 Sea King as the carrier battle group's primary antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and search and rescue (SAR) aircraft. It hunts subs with the AQS-13F dipping sonar, and carries just 14 sonobuoys, compared to the SH-60B's 25.

The SH-60F carries the Mk 46 torpedo and a choice of cabin-mounted machine guns, including the M60D, M240 and GAU-16, for defense. Standard crew complement is one pilot, one copilot, one enlisted tactical sensor operator (TSO) and one enlisted acoustic sensor operator (ASO). SH-60F squadrons are designated Helicopter Antisubmarine (HS), but as squadrons shift from the SH-60F to the MH-60S beginning in 2009, they will be redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC).

HH-60H "Rescue Hawk"

The HH-60H is the primary combat search and rescue (CSAR), naval special warfare (NSW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW) helicopter. It carries a variety of defensive and offensive sensors making it one of the most survivable helicopters in the world. Sensors include a FLIR turret with laser designator and the Aircraft Survival Equipment (ASE) package including the ALQ-144 Infrared Jammer, AVR-2 Laser Detectors, APR-39(V)2 Radar Detectors, AAR-47 Missile Launch Detectors and ALE-47 chaff/flare dispensers. Additionally, airframe improvements in engine exhaust deflectors provide infrared thermal reduction reducing the threat of heat-seeking missiles. The HH-60H can carry up to four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on an extended wing using the M299 launcher and a variety of cabin and port window mounted guns including M60D, M240, GAU-16 and GAU-17/A machine guns. The standard crew for a Hotel is one pilot, one copilot, and two "door gunner" crewmen. HH-60H are operated in Helicopter Antisubmarine (HS) squadrons with a standard dispersal of four Foxtrots and three Hotels.

SH-60 Seahawk helicopter: At sea aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Aug. 9, 2002 -- Members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Detachment Eleven (EOD Mob. Det.11) practice Special Purpose Insertion and Extraction Rigging (SPIE) from an SH-60 "Seahawk" helicopter attached to the “Black Knights” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4) aboard Lincoln. SPIE Rigging is used to extract the EOD personel from locations with unsafe landing zones. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate Airman Gabriel Piper.

MH-60S "Knighthawk"

The MH-60S was developed after the Navy decided to phase out the venerable CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. The MH-60S is deployed aboard amphibious assault ships and fast combat supply ships. It has two missions- troop transports and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) but can also perform search and rescue (SAR). The Sierra has no offensive sensors but can carry the ALQ-144 Infrared Jammer. The Sierra will, in the near future, deploy with the AQS-20A Mine Detection System and an Airborne Laser Detection system for identifying submerged objects in coastal waters. However, the Sierra is the first US Navy helicopter to field the glass cockpit where-by the flight data information is relayed to pilots using four digital screens rather than electromechanical gauges and dials.

The primary means of defense is with the M60D, M240 or GAU-17, a 'batwing' refit (Armed Helo Kit) based on the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk was developed to accommodate Hellfire or Penguin missiles, or larger guns and cannon. MH-60S was unofficially known as the Knighthawk, reflecting its role as the designated successor of the Sea Knight, but this name was formally disapproved allowing the MH-60S to retain the Seahawk name. A standard crew for the Sierra is one pilot, one copilot and two crewmen. With the retirement of the Sea Knight the squadron designation of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) was also retired from the navy. Operating Sierra squadrons were re-designated Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC).

Unlike all other Navy H-60s, the MH-60S is not based on the original S-70B platform with its forward-mounted twin tail-gear and single starboard sliding cabin door. Instead, the Sierra is a hybrid, featuring the main fuselage of the S-70A/UH-60, with large sliding doors on both sides of the cabin and a single aft-mounted tail wheel; and the engines, drivetrain and rotors of the S-70B/SH-60 MH-60R Seahawk

The MH-60R is designed to replace the SH-60Bs and SH-60Fs, and be a true multi-mission helicopter. Its sensors include the ASE package, MTS-FLIR, an advanced airborne fleet data link, and a more advanced airborne active sonar. It does not carry the MAD suite. Pilot instrumentation will be based on the MH-60S’s glass cockpit, using several digital monitors instead of the complex array of dials and gauges in Bravo and Foxtrot aircraft. Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of new Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and Hellfire missiles. All Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) squadrons that receive the Romeo will be redesignated Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM).

The Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), HSM-41, received the R-model (or Romeo) aircraft in December 2005 and has begun training the first set of pilots. In 2007, the MH-60R successfully underwent final testing for incorporation into the fleet. As of August 2008, the first 11 combat-ready examples equipped HSM-71, a squadron assigned to the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). According to Lockheed Martin, "secondary missions include search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation and communications and data relay."

SH-60 Seahawk helicopter: Pacific Ocean (March 10, 2006) - A SH-60F Seahawk helicopter assigned to the "Golden Falcons" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Two (HS-2) prepare to retrieve Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment Nine crew members, during casting and recovery operations. USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) are currently underway to the Western Pacific on a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Justin R. Blake

Variants

* YSH-60B Seahawk: Developmental version, led to SH-60B.

* SH-60B Seahawk

* NSH-60B Seahawk: Permanently configured for flight testing.

* SH-60F Oceanhawk

* NSH-60F Seahawk: Modified SH-60F to support the VH-60N Cockpit Upgrade Program.

* HH-60H Rescue Hawk

* YSH-60R Seahawk:

* MH-60R Seahawk

* YCH-60S "Knighthawk"

* MH-60S "Knighthawk"

Specifications (SH-60B)

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory, Navy fact file

General characteristics

* Crew: 3

* Capacity: 8 passengers or slung load of 6,000 lb or internal load of 4,100 lb for -B, -F and -H models and 11 passengers or slung load of 9,000 lb for -S

* Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.76 m)

* Rotor diameter: 16.36 m (53 ft 8 in)

* Height: 5.23 m (17 ft 2 in)

* Disc area: 210 m² (2'262 ft²)

* Empty weight: 6'190 kg (13'648 lb)

* Loaded weight: 9'575 kg (20'110 lb)

* Max takeoff weight: 9'927 kg (21'884 lb)

* Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft, 1'208 kW (1'620 hp) continuous each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 333 km/h (207 mph, 180 knots)

* Range: 704 km (437 mi, 380 nmi)

* Service ceiling 5'790 m (19'000 ft)

* Rate of climb: 3.6 m/s (700 ft/min)

Armament

* Up to three Mark 46 torpedo or Mark 50 torpedo,

* AGM-114 Hellfire missile, 4 Hellfire missiles for SH-60B and HH-60H, 8 Hellfire missiles for MH-60S Block III.

* AGM-119 Penguin missile (being phased out),

* M60 machine gun or, M240 machine gun or GAU-16/A machine gun or GAU-17/A Minigun

* Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS) using Mk 44 Mod 0 30mm Cannon

More photos:

SH-60 Seahawk helicopter photo gallery
MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter photo gallery