Air Force’s Next Generation Combat Rescue Helicopter Hits Major Milestone

October 24, 2022

The U.S. Air Force declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter, validating the platform's operational readiness to forward deploy Air Force rescue crews around the globe. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, designed and manufactures the HH-60W, which enables the U.S. Air Force to conduct rescue missions at greater ranges and in the most challenging environments with increased survivability.

In addition to the IOC declaration, on September 7, the Air Force conducted its first successful mission utilizing the HH-60W to transport a man from Valdosta State University in Georgia to a hospital in Tampa, Florida. Additionally, the Air Force recently announced the aircraft has been deployed for the first time to provide rescue services in support of contingency operations.

As the sole dedicated combat rescue platform in the Department of Defense, the Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter builds on the decades-long legacy of U.S. Air Force combat rescue and recapitalizes the critical combat search and rescue fleet providing U.S. Air Force combat rescue warriors with the best capability for their critical and demanding lifesaving mission. The HH-60W Jolly Green II, which is replacing the aging HH-60G Pavehawk, was specially built for the Air Force’s combat rescue mission based on fully vetted operational requirements. The next generation helicopter provides enhanced survivability while recovering isolated personnel from hostile territory, day or night, in adverse weather, and in a full range of threat environments. It enables Air Force Combat Rescue Team to fulfill their mission “That Others May Live” and “Leave No One Behind”.

Leveraging the proven survivability and reliability of the H-60M Black Hawk, the HH-60W Jolly Green II incorporates advanced digital design techniques, an open architecture for rapid mission system integration, an air refueling system, upgraded survivability and defensive systems, cabin and cockpit armor, integrated weapons, and increases main fuel tank capacity to 644 gallons. These advanced technologies enable the Jolly Green II to meet the Combatant Commander’s demands of today and the emerging Joint All Domain Operations (JADO) requirements in near peer competition and win in conflict.

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