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On April 13th, the US Air Force successfully passed its latest round of tests on its new combat rescue helicopter, the Sikorsky-built HH-60W Jolly Green II.
The last step of developmental testing checked whether the helicopter’s weapons worked in flight and were properly configured, the Air Force said in a release.
HH-60W is equipped with a 7.62 mm Gatling gun that fires 3,000 rounds per minute, a .50 caliber machine gun that can fire 1,100 rounds per minute, and a .50 caliber machine gun that can reach 800 rounds per minute.
The goal of that test was to both demonstrate the performance of the weapons while optimizing weapon system configurations.
“The timely completion of this test program represents an amazing accomplishment by the HH-60W Integrated Test Team,” said Joe Whiteaker, the 413th Flight Test Squadron HH-60W flight chief. “The team consistently overcame tremendous adversity through a mix of innovation and sheer determination.”
The test efforts began in May 2019 with the first HH-60W flight. The aircraft arrived here to the 413th FLTS in November 2019 although various tests took place in other locations. The integrated test team accumulated over 1,100 flight test hours across six aircraft testing the full spectrum of aircraft systems.
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Search-and-rescue forces will fly the Jolly Green II, named after the green Vietnam War-era rescue helicopters, into remote and dangerous areas to find downed airmen who could be in peril or need medical evacuation. It replaces the HH-60H Pave Hawk, an earlier version of the Army’s Black Hawk that the Air Force has flown since the 1980s.
“I am incredibly proud of the many people from so many organizations who have come together to pull off a really challenging test program,” Lt. Col. Wayne Dirkes, the 413 FLTS commander. “The team’s relentless focus on keeping the end in mind, aligning activity with their goals and moving forward quickly with discipline resulted in execution of a safe and highly successful test program in the face of incredible pressure.”
The Air Force is on track to buy 113 of the airframes for nearly $7.6 billion.
Other parts of the test program looked at the performance of the helicopter itself, its communications systems, in-air refueling, and live fire of the aircraft’s guns. It’s been baked in temperatures as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit and frozen to -60 degrees Fahrenheit to see how the helicopter behaves.
Tests of the airframe will continue at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in 2022, while Sikorsky continues to deliver the choppers to rescue units.
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I Wonder if they finally managed to solve the micro torque loss issue after 40+ years…
“HH60-W RESCUE HELICOPTER” they’re going to need it.