Thursday, May 05, 2016

Sikorsky Combat Rescue Helicopter


via Press Release (abbreviated...only the interesting part is posted).
The USAF Program of Record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's rapidly aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.
The HH-60W is an advanced variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter design and features increased internal fuel capability, allowing for greater range, and an increase in cabin space. The CRH aircraft will feature GE T700-701D engines, composite wide-cord main rotor blades and fatigue and corrosion-resistant machined aero-structures to sustain maneuverability at high density altitudes. The design includes an advanced Tactical Mission Kit integrating multiple sensors, data links, defensive systems, and other sources of intelligence information for use by combat rescue aircrews.
Increased range, cabin size, corrosion resistance?  This thing seems ready for ship board use.  If we had the old Corps we would probably truncate buys of the MV-22 and tune this model for Marine Corps use.  I'm positive that a few dozen UH-60M's modded for USMC use would be a welcome addition to any MEU.

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