HH-60J Jayhawk
The HH-60J Jayhawk is a medium-range recovery helicopter. The HH-60J is used to perform search and rescue, law enforcement, military readiness, and marine environmental protection missions.
In 1986 the HH-60 Jayhawk was selected to replace the aging HH-3F Pelican as the Coast Guard's medium range helicopter. Implementation of the HH-60J began in March of 1990 with the delivery of the first airframe to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland for developmental testing. ATC Mobile, Alabama was the first Cost Guard unit to fly the aircraft as instructor pilots prepared for pilot training in March 1991. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City was the first operational unit with the Jayhawk.
The United States Coast Guard built a fleet of 42 medium-range Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk helicopters to its fleet of aircraft. Jayhawks have replaced the Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican helicopters that the Coast Guard has used for over 20 years. The HH-60J is similar to the HH-3F in many ways, and the assigned mission are the same. However, the HH-60J has numerous upgrades including a state of the art electronics package. The HH-60J is lighter, faster and the engines have more power.
The power provided by the twin T700-GE-401C General Electric turbine engines, each rated at 1662 shaft horsepower, gives the aircraft a maximum takeoff weight of 21,884 pounds and enables a cargo sling load of 6,000 pounds. The HH-60J can fly 300 miles offshore, remain on-scene for 45 minutes, recover six survivors, and return with fuel reserves.
The Jayhawk's state-of-the art radar, radio, and navigation equipment enables the helicopter to carry out the Coast Guard's search and rescue, law enforcement, military readiness, and marine environmental protection missions efficiently and effectively. The Jayhawk uses the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System as its primary long range navigational aid. On board the Jayhawk, the Collins RCVR-3A radio simultaneously receives information from four of the system's 18 worldwide satellites and converts it into latitude fixes, pinpointing the helicopter's position.
The H-60 can not perform water landings, as the H-3 was capable of. However, with its twin T700-GE-401C engines, the Jayhawk can fly 300 miles offshore, remain on scene 45 minutes, hoist six people on board, and return to its point of origin with a safe fuel reserve. Normal cruising speeds of 135-140 knots can be increased to a "dash" speed of 180 knots when necessary. The H-60 will fly comfortably at 140 knots for 6-7 hours.
Though normally stationed ashore, the Jayhawk can be carried aboard 270-foot WMEC and 378-foot WHEC Coast Guard Cutters. These cutters are capable of refueling and supporting the helicopter for the duration of a cutter patrol. They assist in the missions of search and rescue, enforcement of laws and treaties including drug interdiction, marine environmental protection, and military readiness.
The United States Coast Guard will upgrade and modernize its current Sikorsky HH-60J JAYHAWK helicopter fleet to meet its expanded Homeland Defense responsibilities, according to the revised Deepwater Implementation Plan presented to Congress in April 2005. Deepwater outlines the USCG?s long-range acquisition strategy across its entire inventory of cutters and aircraft to provide improved systems for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) and innovative logistics support.
An earlier version of Deepwater called for the purchase of a new and smaller aircraft to replace the JAYHAWK as the Coast Guard?s Medium Range Recovery (MMR) Helicopter. In light of the USCG's post 9-11 requirements, Deepwater now forgoes the new aircraft and calls for upgrading the current HH-60J JAYHAWK.
The newly-designated MH-60T will be fitted with a new state-of-the-art cockpit, new search /weather radar and Electro-Optics/IR units, upgraded engines and airframe, and an Airborne Use of Force Package to provide more firepower and protection from small arms fire.
The JAYHAWK is a variant of the Sikorsky H-60 product line currently used by all five branches of the US military along with 25 governments across the world. The JAYHAWK is a rugged, proven, versatile multi-mission military aircraft well suited to the task. Sikorsky Aircraft delivered 42 HH-60Js to the Coast Guard for search and rescue (SAR), offshore law enforcement, drug interdiction, aids to navigation and environmental protection.
