HH-60M Black Hawk
The HH-60M Black Hawk, the medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) version of the UH-60M Black Hawk, includes a full medical evacuation mission equipment package in the cabin area, integrated Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) and an onboard oxygen generating system. Its state-of-the-art onboard medical systems include environmental control (air conditioner), oxygen generating system, and in route medical care such as suction, patient vital monitors and an external rescue hoist to be used in areas where a landing cannot be accomplished. The HH-60M is capable of carrying up to 6 litter patients or 6 walking wounded, has a range of 275 nautical miles, and can cruise at 150 knots per hour.
The USAF's HH-60G was rapidly approaching its flying hour service life limit as of 2000. These low density, high demand platforms first entered service in 1981 and have been continuously deployed in support of operations throughout the world. Consequently, the Combat Air Force required either a service life extension program (SLEP) for HH-60G or procurement of a replacement aircraft for conducting combat search and rescue operations. The HH-60G System Program Office (WR-ALC/LU) assessed whether HH-60G's service life limit was 8,000 flight hours, in accordance with the Army specification for the H-60 airframe, or actually closer to 7,000 flight hours based upon Air Force configuration and operating gross weights of the HH-60G. Depending on the assessment results, HH-60G aircraft (1981 models) would begin reaching their service life limit as early as FY00, if service life limit was determined to be 7,000 flight hours. Otherwise, if the limit was determined to be 8,000 flight hours, 1981 model HH-60G aircraft would begin reaching their service life limit in FY03.
Air Combat Command (ACC) analyzed concepts/alternatives to assess their relative cost effectiveness and affordability for sustaining the US Air Force's combat search and rescue capability. After complete concepts/alternatives (aircraft platform-level, including subsystems, and support/training systems) were received, the Air Force analyzed those that provided the most opportunity to satisfy existing deficient mission capabilities while maintaining, as a minimum, existent combat search and rescue capability. A detailed Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) followed to ascertain whether or not the concepts/alternatives exceed/met/do not meet the specific measures of effectiveness. The AoA included modeling, simulation, and combat search and rescue scenarios projected for 2010. If this analysis resulted in the initiation of an acquisition program to procure a replacement for the HH-60G aircraft, the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) would be in place by the end of FY07.
The much needed replacement for the HH-60G was the new Combat Search and Rescue Replacement (CSAR-X) aircraft The initiation of CSAR-X Block 0 development was delayed several times, in part due to 2 bid protests filed at General Accountability Office (GAO). The Air Force awarded the Block 0 development contract to Boeing in November 2006, but a bid protest by competing contractors filed with GAO required the Air Force to suspend the beginning of product development activities. In February 2007, GAO sustained the protest. In response, the Air Force amended its request for proposals. However, the competitors filed another bid protest in response to the Air Force's amended request. This second protest was also sustained by GAO in August 2007. As a result, the Air Force had again amended the request for proposals in response to the protest. Further, the Air Force released another amendment in December 2008 to incorporate more changes and clarifications. In April 2009, the Secretary of Defense recommended canceling or curtailing all or part of at least a half dozen major defense acquisition programs, including the Air Force's CSAR-X program.
The purpose of the HH-60M Operational Loss Replacement (OLR) program was to initiate and support the acquisition of CSAR Operational Loss Replacement (OLR) helicopters to replace HH-60Gs lost through attrition. The acquisition strategy was to procure UH-60M aircraft from the Army and then procure modifications to bring the UH-60M aircraft to an acceptable configuration that was closer to the fielded HH-60G configuration. Modifications included but were not limited to: external guns, external hoist, refueling probe, avionics suite, communications suite, and defensive suites required for the HH-60 mission. Non-recurring engineering would be required for pre-production activities once the configuration is set.
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