Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
Public domain · source
Name	Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
Caption	An SH-60 Seahawk in flight
Type	Naval helicopter
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight	1979
Introduced	1984
Status	In service
Primary user	United States Navy
Developed from	Sikorsky S-70 family

Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk is a twin-engine, multi-mission naval helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft for shipboard operations, derived from the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk family. Employed by the United States Navy and allied navies, the Seahawk supports anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, logistics, and special operations while operating from aircraft carrier decks, destroyers, and frigates. The type has participated in operations associated with Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Design and Development

Development of the Seahawk began as a Navy requirement to replace the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite and adapt the UH-60 Black Hawk for maritime conditions during the 1970s, involving collaboration among Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing, and Lockheed. Design priorities included corrosion-resistant materials influenced by lessons from the Hurricane Katrina response, shipboard compatibility derived from Naval Air Systems Command specifications, and sensors integration guided by Naval Research Laboratory studies. The airframe incorporated folding rotors and a hinged tail to meet Littoral combat and Cold War-era constraints, while avionics suites were influenced by requirements from the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System and AN/AQS-13 sonar doctrines. Prototypes flew in 1979, followed by endurance testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River and evaluations against criteria set by Commander, Naval Air Forces.

Variants

The Seahawk family expanded into multiple variants to meet diverse mission sets and procurement programs, including: - SH-60B: Developed to support Carrier Battle Group anti-submarine operations, integrating AN/AQS-22 sensors and datalink connectivity with P-3 Orion and Lockheed P-3 Orion doctrine. - SH-60F: A carrier-based anti-submarine variant interoperable with USS Nimitz (CVN-68) class carriers and coordinated via ACU-5 deck handling procedures. - HH-60H: Configured for combat search and rescue and special warfare support aligned with United States Special Operations Command tasking and Navy SEALs deployments. - MH-60R "Romeo": Modernized anti-submarine and surface warfare variant integrating AN/AQS-22 sonar, APG-78 radar-family derivatives, and mission systems aligned with Arleigh Burke-class destroyer sensors. - MH-60S "Sierra": Logistic and vertical replenishment variant evolved from CH-46 Sea Knight roles and coordinated with Military Sealift Command operations. These variants were adapted through upgrade programs managed by Naval Air Systems Command and industry partners including General Electric and Northrop Grumman.

Operational History

Seahawks entered service in the 1980s and supported Cold War North Atlantic Treaty Organization anti-submarine patrols alongside Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy units. During Operation Desert Storm and subsequent Gulf War operations, Seahawk crews executed search and rescue, surface surveillance, and vertical replenishment missions in concert with Carrier Strike Group assets. In the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns, Seahawks provided overland support for United States Central Command missions, including insertion and extraction for United States Marine Corps and United States Army Special Forces. International deployments include operations with the Royal Netherlands Navy, Republic of Korea Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Indian Navy during exercises such as RIMPAC and Malabar.

Mission and Capabilities

Seahawks perform anti-submarine warfare using sonobuoy deployment and dipping sonar tactics integrated with systems similar to AN/AQS-22 and coordinate with P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon, and MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned assets. Surface warfare missions employ radar, electro-optical sensors, and weapon stores compatible with AGM-114 Hellfire and Mk 46/Mk 54 torpedoes. Search and rescue and medical evacuation tasks follow protocols referenced by Joint Publication 3-50 and are executed under Fleet Forces Command direction. Special operations support conforms to standards used by Naval Special Warfare Command and Joint Special Operations Command, including fast-roping and external load capabilities developed alongside Bell UH-1Y Venom and Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion lessons. Shipboard operations follow procedures set by Commander, Naval Surface Forces and are certified under Maritime Prepositioning doctrines.

Operators

Primary and secondary operators include: - United States Navy - Royal Australian Navy - Royal Navy - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Republic of Korea Navy - Royal Netherlands Navy - Spanish Navy - Turkish Navy - Indian Navy - Hellenic Navy Other users and potential acquisition programs have involved Taiwan (Republic of China Navy), Saudi Arabian Navy interest, and partnership discussions with Egyptian Navy procurement offices.

Specifications

Typical specifications (MH/SH/HH family generalized): - Crew: 2 pilots + 1–4 aircrew depending on mission; staffing follows IMCOM-adjacent manning models used by Fleet Replacement Squadrons. - Length: approximately 64 ft (rotor diameter), with fuselage dimensions influenced by S-70 derivatives. - Engines: twin turboshafts produced under license by General Electric/Pratt & Whitney agreements, offering powerplants comparable to those used in UH-60 Black Hawk applications. - Performance: cruise speeds and endurance consistent with carrier helicopter doctrine, enabling overwater transit to meet Maritime Patrol tasking profiles and integration with Carrier Air Wing operations. - Armament: torpedoes (e.g., Mk 46, Mk 54), anti-ship missiles in export/custom configurations, and door-mounted machine guns similar to M240 series employed by United States Marine Corps units. Note: precise variant specifications differ; procurement documentation is maintained by Naval Air Systems Command.

Accidents and Incidents

Seahawk incidents have occurred in peacetime and combat, involving mishaps during carrier landing operations, vertical replenishment accidents, and combat losses during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Investigations have been conducted by Naval Safety Center and National Transportation Safety Board-coordinated boards when civilian airspace or joint operations were implicated. Notable outcomes influenced training changes in Fleet Replacement Squadron syllabi and shipboard recovery procedures promulgated by Commander, Naval Air Forces.

Category:United States Navy helicopters Category:Sikorsky aircraft